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The Far Princess: A Drama In Four Acts
English, French (translation)
- GenresPlaysFrench Literature
169 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1947
2 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Edmond Rostand
197 books753 followersPeople know light, entertaining works, particularly
Cyrano de Bergerac
(1897), of French playwright Edmond Rostand.
Neo-romanticism associates poet and dramatist Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand. His romantic plays provided an alternative to the popular naturalistic theatre during the late 19th century. People adapted "Les Romanesques" as the highly successful musical comedy "The Fantasticks."
The Académie Française elected this youngest writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_...
Neo-romanticism associates poet and dramatist Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand. His romantic plays provided an alternative to the popular naturalistic theatre during the late 19th century. People adapted "Les Romanesques" as the highly successful musical comedy "The Fantasticks."
The Académie Française elected this youngest writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmond_...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 20, 2017
You too? You thought that you read all of Edmond Rostand’s plays that were available in the English language and you despaired of not having more from the master of neo-romantic awesomeness? Then be appeased, as I was. There are several versions of The Princess Far Away that somehow slipped past my radar years ago when I was lapping up all the Rostand I could muster.
The version of the play I read has a translation from Henderson, and it maintains the original, rhyming verse of the original. Of course, that means that it loses a lot of meaning as the translator bends it to their will for the purpose of fitting rhyme and meter … but otherwise you are not experiencing the beauty of a meticulously designed tale as poetry. So either translation is not ideal, but I feel I got the one I wanted until I can brush up my French enough to read it in its original language.
The Princess Far Away is fairly short and manageable, with a few visual elements to imagine, but nothing like some of Rostand’s other, later works, which seemed to be almost as much based on special effects as they were on story (something Rostand was perhaps too ambitious in tackling, some directors might say … though there is no denying how gloriously ambitious he was!).
This early play by Rostand, seems to dip into familiar tragic romance stories, but it provides surprises throughout. Just when you think you know where it is going, there is a change of pace or a sudden reversal. The ending elevates the characters and the story to a different level, one that provides the tragedy of a Greek or Shakespearean play, while also offering the nobility of an optimistic and inspiring ending. This is something that the rest of his works will provide and, like them, the Idea (something different though similar in all his plays, and something that is both ephemeral yet real) takes number one precedence and reveals truths about mankind and our relationship with each other that transcends the routine, fashionable, petty, fleeting, and cynical views so common in the world today.
I’m not sure if Rostand has formed my views or I keep coming back to him because my outlook and his are such natural matches. Regardless, I deeply appreciated The Princess Far Away, and I also deeply appreciate finding yet another of his plays in the hazy peripheral of the internet … and you can bet that I will read it with the same vigor that I have his others.
The version of the play I read has a translation from Henderson, and it maintains the original, rhyming verse of the original. Of course, that means that it loses a lot of meaning as the translator bends it to their will for the purpose of fitting rhyme and meter … but otherwise you are not experiencing the beauty of a meticulously designed tale as poetry. So either translation is not ideal, but I feel I got the one I wanted until I can brush up my French enough to read it in its original language.
The Princess Far Away is fairly short and manageable, with a few visual elements to imagine, but nothing like some of Rostand’s other, later works, which seemed to be almost as much based on special effects as they were on story (something Rostand was perhaps too ambitious in tackling, some directors might say … though there is no denying how gloriously ambitious he was!).
This early play by Rostand, seems to dip into familiar tragic romance stories, but it provides surprises throughout. Just when you think you know where it is going, there is a change of pace or a sudden reversal. The ending elevates the characters and the story to a different level, one that provides the tragedy of a Greek or Shakespearean play, while also offering the nobility of an optimistic and inspiring ending. This is something that the rest of his works will provide and, like them, the Idea (something different though similar in all his plays, and something that is both ephemeral yet real) takes number one precedence and reveals truths about mankind and our relationship with each other that transcends the routine, fashionable, petty, fleeting, and cynical views so common in the world today.
I’m not sure if Rostand has formed my views or I keep coming back to him because my outlook and his are such natural matches. Regardless, I deeply appreciated The Princess Far Away, and I also deeply appreciate finding yet another of his plays in the hazy peripheral of the internet … and you can bet that I will read it with the same vigor that I have his others.
April 20, 2019
A really interesting and non-tipical story about love at the distance and romantic sides of a middle-ages in hyperbole form.
But, however, u can't trust women your heart or your best friend as a ambassador (:
Reading this i once again thought that the inconsistency of women is eternal.
But, however, u can't trust women your heart or your best friend as a ambassador (:
Reading this i once again thought that the inconsistency of women is eternal.
December 14, 2023
This was such a non-cliche love story. Is that an oxymoron?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews