Anthony Burgess' energetically witty translation of this well-loved nineteenth-century French classic about the swordsman-poet with the nose too large to be taken seriously. This translation was first acclaimed in the 1985 Royal Shakespeare Company production with Derek Jacobi as Cyrano. Six years later Burgess provided the sub-titles for the hit film version with Gerard Depardieu, and the sub-titles won as much praise as did the film itself! Edmond Rostand (1868-1918) wrote several plays which were mightily successful in their time, providing starring roles for the likes of Sarah Bernhardt and Coquelin. But only Cyrano de Bergerac still survives. Anthony Burgess was the author of over fifty books, among them the novel, The Clockwork Orange, as well as stage plays, screenplays and translations.
"'Anthony Burgess's ingenious translation serves Rostand's wit while adding a few fillips of its own'"
New York Times
"'Emotional depth Rostand himself would surely have envied... Burgess' extravagant verse keeps its contours, yet trips off the tongue almost as though it were contemporary speech'"
The Times
"'The bounce and brilliance of Anthony Burgess' translation'"
