Books

Full Description: ROSTAND, Edmond. Cyrano de Bergerac. Com�die H�ro�que en Cinq Actes en Vers. Paris: Librairie Charpentier et Fasquelle, 1898. First trade edition. Octavo (7 7/8 x 5 5/16 inches; 200 x 135 mm). [1]-225, [3, blank] pp. In original glassine. Inscribed by Rostand to Fernand Bougeat on half-title, "� monsieur / Fernand Bourgeat / souvenir coronal / Edmond Rostand." Also with a postcard, dated 1930, of Coquelin Ain� as Cyrano de Bergerac laid in. A rare presentation in the original wrappers. Fernand Bourgeat (1851-1932) was the Secretary General of the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris. Original light green printed wrappers. Front wrapper invisible reattached. Wrappers printed in dark green. Edges uncut. In glassine. Back wrapper with a small closed tear to the bottom margin. Spine a bit creased and lightly flaking. Old ink note to top corner of glassine. Glassine lightly toned. Overall a very nice, clean copy. Housed in a chemise and cloth slipcase with red morocco spine labels. "Cyrano de Bergerac is the most famous example of poetic, romantic drama that [Rostand] created. A colorful and exciting portrait of the reign of Louis XIII, with an aspiring poet-lover for its hero, the play enjoyed tremendous popularity." (Ben�t's Reader's Encyclopedia, 890). HBS 69105. $15,000.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a play written in 1897 by Edmond Rostand. Although there was a real Cyrano de Bergerac, the play is a fictionalized account of his life and incorporates larger-than-life elements. It explores themes of inner versus outer beauty, love, and heroism.