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| 7/28/1655 |
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The Real Cyrano: Big Nose, Little Panache
On this day in 1655 Hercule Savinien Cyrano de Bergerac died at the age of thirty-six. He was the model for the hero in Edmond Rostand's 1897 hit play, and a writer himself -- several plays, and two science-fantasy novels. The real de Bergerac wasn't the swordsman of legend, but he had a big nose, and a belief that "A large nose is the mark of a witty, courteous, affable, generous, and liberal man." |
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Online Books Page
Find the electronic text of Cyrano de Bergerac. |  | Pegasos
Find an English-language biography about the French poet and dramatist.
"... Rostand revitalized the old romantic drama in verse. Naturalism was the major movement in literature - it was the time of Zola - but Rostand took up old themes and followed the Romantic tradition of Victor Hugo. When Cyrano was performed, the enthusiasm at the premiere was unexpected - people wept and it is told that the author was pelted with ladies' gloves and fans." | | Spark Notes
Find a study guide to Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac which includes a plot overview and chapter-by-chapter summary, character analysis and review of themes, quotations, facts about the novel, study questions, an online quiz, and suggestions for further reading.
"Cyrano de Bergerac places strong emphasis on values and ideals. Cyrano is the play's eloquent and ardent defender of ideals such as integrity, bravery, glory, and the pursuit of love and women. The play's main conflict—-Cyrano's inability to tell Roxane how much he loves her out of deference to her request that he protect Christian—-results from Cyrano's unwavering promise to keep his word. Cyrano protects his secret nearly to his death, and his death itself, though tragic, is also transcendent. The play suggests that by adhering to his values at the expense of his personal desire, Cyrano achieves an ideal, untarnished moral standing. Roxane herself is in all ways the ideal woman: she is intelligent, warm, caring, and beautiful." | | Teacher CyberGuide: Cyrano de Bergerac
This useful resource for teachers offers suggested activities and topics for dicussion in the classroom, and links to websites about Cyrano, the Baroque period and seventeenth century France, and courtly love. | | Wanadoo Biographies
A French-language biography discusses the author's early literary essays, friends and influences (including the actress Sarah Bernhardt), early works, and the success of Cyrano:
"En effet, cette pièce brillante, grâce à laquelle le nom de Rostand fut retenu par l'histoire littéraire, se place entre le tableau historique (elle a pour cadre le XVIIe siècle français) et le mélodrame (elle traite d'un sacrifice amoureux). ... Le rôle principal fut tenu par de nombreux acteurs célèbres tels que Benoît Constant Coquelin et plus récemment Gérard Depardieu dans une adaptation cinématographique de la pièce. Ce triomphe durera quinze mois : 400 représentations, on le compare à Hugo." | |
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The TinL masthead features photography by
Natasha D'Schommer
, and the book art featured is by Jim Rosenau.
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