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Three Plays: Phaedra / Brittanicus / Andromache
"George Dillon has elected for speed and clarity; his speed, of which short quotations can impart no notion, is his equivalent for Racine's impetuous dexterity with the French Alexandrine. . . . Momentum, in such a version, is everything. It stands as a homage to Racine's strength of construction . . . and to the expressive power of his themes, on which Mr. Dillon's prefaces have eloquent and sensible things to say."—Hugh Kenner, National Review
"His literal and flexible blank verse actually forms the nearest thing in English to the longer-measured rhymed couplets of Racine; even an ordinary reading aloud of so faithful a rendering provides something of the experience that Proust described."—Elliott Coleman, Poetry
"A superb introduction . . . flawless translations, infused with poetic fire and charm."—Margaret Carpenter, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
"His literal and flexible blank verse actually forms the nearest thing in English to the longer-measured rhymed couplets of Racine; even an ordinary reading aloud of so faithful a rendering provides something of the experience that Proust described."—Elliott Coleman, Poetry
"A superb introduction . . . flawless translations, infused with poetic fire and charm."—Margaret Carpenter, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
212 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 1961
2 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Jean Racine
2,047 books360 followersClassical Greek and Roman themes base noted tragedies, such as
Britannicus
(1669) and
Phèdre
(1677), of French playwright Jean Baptiste Racine.
Adherents of movement of Cornelis Jansen included Jean Baptiste Racine.
This dramatist ranks alongside Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin) and Pierre Corneille of the "big three" of 17th century and of the most important literary figures in the western tradition. Psychological insight, the prevailing passion of characters, and the nakedness of both plot and stage mark dramaturgy of Racine. Although primarily a tragedian, Racine wrote one comedy.
Orphaned by the age of four years when his mother died in 1641 and his father died in 1643, he came into the care of his grandparents. At the death of his grandfather in 1649, his grandmother, Marie des Moulins, went to live in the convent of Port-Royal and took her grandson Jean-Baptiste. He received a classical education at the Petites écoles de Port-Royal, a religious institution that greatly influenced other contemporary figures, including Blaise Pascal.
The French bishops and the pope condemned Jansenism, a heretical theology, but its followers ran Port-Royal. Interactions of Racine with the Jansenists in his years at this academy great influenced the rest of his life. At Port-Royal, he excelled in his studies of the classics, and the themes of Greek and Roman mythology played large roles in his works.
Jean Racine died from cancer of the liver. He requested burial in Port-Royal, but after Louis XIV razed this site in 1710, people moved his body to the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris.
*source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ra...
Adherents of movement of Cornelis Jansen included Jean Baptiste Racine.
This dramatist ranks alongside Molière (Jean Baptiste Poquelin) and Pierre Corneille of the "big three" of 17th century and of the most important literary figures in the western tradition. Psychological insight, the prevailing passion of characters, and the nakedness of both plot and stage mark dramaturgy of Racine. Although primarily a tragedian, Racine wrote one comedy.
Orphaned by the age of four years when his mother died in 1641 and his father died in 1643, he came into the care of his grandparents. At the death of his grandfather in 1649, his grandmother, Marie des Moulins, went to live in the convent of Port-Royal and took her grandson Jean-Baptiste. He received a classical education at the Petites écoles de Port-Royal, a religious institution that greatly influenced other contemporary figures, including Blaise Pascal.
The French bishops and the pope condemned Jansenism, a heretical theology, but its followers ran Port-Royal. Interactions of Racine with the Jansenists in his years at this academy great influenced the rest of his life. At Port-Royal, he excelled in his studies of the classics, and the themes of Greek and Roman mythology played large roles in his works.
Jean Racine died from cancer of the liver. He requested burial in Port-Royal, but after Louis XIV razed this site in 1710, people moved his body to the church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris.
*source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Ra...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 30, 2025
Andromache by Jean Racine
Not one of my favorites
Because Marcel Proust was so fond of Racine, I was hoping that I will like his work too.
Marcel Proust is the best writer I know.
But alas, I did not enjoy Andromache as much as I perhaps should, even if Racine comes with such important credentials.
It is my shortcoming and this is happening to me often enough: I do not take it to heart and then the work makes me think of other things.
At least in this case, Andromache has reminded me of Literature as it was taught in high school.
At that time I was lucky to have a mesmerizing teacher who told stories like no other and introduced us to classic and Romantic novels.
The classics would be associated with the sunlight while
The Romantics would prefer the moon and the shadows.
I was also fascinated by the ever present Conflict between passion and reason, or duty.
Because this work refers to the aftermath of the Trojan War, I could not help but puzzle again over the meaning of that conflict.
Speaking of the conflict between Passion and Reason, the fight over Helen of Troy seems to signify a decisive victory for Passion.
It also looks flimsy, to fight a major war, with thousands upon thousands dying over the fate of a woman, be it Helen of Troy, who may have decided to run away after all.
Many of the killings seem, if not pointless, the result of revenge, spite and Passion. There is no cool head, or responsible leader who acts because he listens to Reason.
Well, I exaggerate- it happens, but it seldom happens.
The play has it all:
- Love, hate, a blood bath and fierce fights, revenge and a love chain, with all involved loving the wrong people.
For all that, I did not take it to heart and could not concentrate on it, which probably means that I have missed a good opportunity to enjoy an acclaimed play.
Not one of my favorites
Because Marcel Proust was so fond of Racine, I was hoping that I will like his work too.
Marcel Proust is the best writer I know.
But alas, I did not enjoy Andromache as much as I perhaps should, even if Racine comes with such important credentials.
It is my shortcoming and this is happening to me often enough: I do not take it to heart and then the work makes me think of other things.
At least in this case, Andromache has reminded me of Literature as it was taught in high school.
At that time I was lucky to have a mesmerizing teacher who told stories like no other and introduced us to classic and Romantic novels.
The classics would be associated with the sunlight while
The Romantics would prefer the moon and the shadows.
I was also fascinated by the ever present Conflict between passion and reason, or duty.
Because this work refers to the aftermath of the Trojan War, I could not help but puzzle again over the meaning of that conflict.
Speaking of the conflict between Passion and Reason, the fight over Helen of Troy seems to signify a decisive victory for Passion.
It also looks flimsy, to fight a major war, with thousands upon thousands dying over the fate of a woman, be it Helen of Troy, who may have decided to run away after all.
Many of the killings seem, if not pointless, the result of revenge, spite and Passion. There is no cool head, or responsible leader who acts because he listens to Reason.
Well, I exaggerate- it happens, but it seldom happens.
The play has it all:
- Love, hate, a blood bath and fierce fights, revenge and a love chain, with all involved loving the wrong people.
For all that, I did not take it to heart and could not concentrate on it, which probably means that I have missed a good opportunity to enjoy an acclaimed play.
Read
September 26, 2023Read Britannicus for class
July 14, 2023
i like how it differs from the original myths.
November 2, 2016
در اساطیر یونان، "آندروماک" دختر پادشاه شهر "تب" است، شهری که در نهمین سال جنگ "تروا"، به انتقام از هکتور پسر پریام، و همسرش آندروماک، غارت می شود. در جنگ تروا پدر و هفت برادر آندروماک کشته می شوند، و شوهرش هکتور نیز به دست آشیل به هلاکت می رسد. وقتی آندروماک به عنوان عنیمت جنگی نصیب "نئوپتولمه" فرزند آشیل می شود. آندروماک زنی بوده بلند قامت، نافذ و پر قدرت ...
ایفی ژنی، یا "ایفی ژنیا"، یکی از دختران "آگاممنون"، پادشاه آتن است. پیش از جنگ تروا، کالخاس به آگاممنون توصیه می کند برای فرونشاندن خشم الهه، دخترش ایفی ژنی را در معبد آرتمیس قربانی کند. آگاممنون ابتدا نمی پذیرد اما با فشار دیگران و از جمله برادرش "منلاس"، می پذیرد که ایفی ژنی را در معبد آرتمیس قربانی کند. اما الهه آرتمیس بر آگاممنون رحم می آورد و ماده غزالی یا ماده گاوی را برای قربانی، بجای ایفی ژنی می فرستد، و ایفی ژنی را به جزیره ی "کریمه" می برد و او را به پاسداری معبد خود می گمارد. ایفی ژنی تا سال ها در معبد آرتمیس خدمت می کند و...
اغلب تراژدی های راسین از اساطیر یونانی گرفته شده،...
December 8, 2007
seriously. don't read this.
damn harvard made me read this... it blew.
but their production of brittanicus was pretty good.
damn harvard made me read this... it blew.
but their production of brittanicus was pretty good.
September 21, 2009
Racine is a master, and these are his 3 best.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews