Publisher's Synopsis
Moliere was the stage name used by Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-73), the French playwright, actor and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and universal literature. His works include comedies, farces, tragi-comedies, comedie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often at the Comedie Francaise than those of any other playwright. After 13 years as an itinerant actor which helped him polish his comic abilities he began writing, combining Commedia dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy. Through the patronage of aristocrats including Louis XIV's brother, Philippe I, Duke of Orleans, Moliere secured a command performance before the King and was later granted the use of the theatre at the Palais-Royal, his plays finding great favour among Parisians. His troupe, given the title Troupe du Roi (The King's Troupe), was given a royal pension and Moliere became the official author of court entertainments. His major works include Le Medecin volant (The Flying Doctor), Les Precieuses ridicules (The Affected Young Ladies), L'ecole des femmes (The School for Wives), and Le Misanthrope ou L'Atrabilaire amoureux (The Misanthrope, or, The Cantankerous Lover). Les Femmes savant (The Learned Ladies) is a comedy in five acts first performed at the Theatre du Palais-Royal on 11 March 1672 with Molière acting the part of Chrysale. Written in verse in the original French, it is a satire on academic pretension, female education, and 'preciousness', and is one of Moliere's most popular comedies. This edition is a translation into English prose by Charles Heron Wall (1836-1905), who also provided the notes.
