The Complete Plays of Jean Racine

The Complete Plays of Jean Racine Volume 1 presents a masterful English translation of the renowned French playwright's work. This collection of drama focuses on the tragedy of Britannicus, where Geoffrey Alan Argent translates the urgency and psychological depth of the original verse. The text utilizes the heroic couplet to bring new vigor to these classic European literary collections, including a previously untranslated eighty-two-line scene from Act III.

This volume of French literary criticism and drama centers on the rise of Nero, the son of Agrippina. The plot follows Nero as he asserts his omnipotence through the callous murder of his stepbrother, Britannicus, and the destruction of the virtuous Junia. Through this narrative, Racine explores the cruelty and depravity of the Roman Empire. Extensive notes and commentary accompany the play, providing essential historical context for this scholarly edition.