Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rostand Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Cyrano De Bergerac
Book Review: One of the greatest plays ever written
Summary: 5 Stars
Edmond Rostand's masterpiece, Cyrano de Bergerac, is one of the greatest plays ever written. It is a mix of everything: a tragedy, romance, comedy, and pseudo-history, all in one. Like all great playwrights, Rostand weaves highly witty remarks throughout his texts, many of them laugh-out-loud funny; Cyrano's famous lengthy monologue about how he could have been insulted better and Christian's "nosy" berating of Cyrano are classic moments. The play is also highly tragic: the plot twists and turns, not playing out as one would expect, and it leaves one absolutely brimming over with emotion by play's end. Cyrano is one of the great tragic characters in all literature -- a sharp-witted, swashbuckling poet, and a big softy to boot. He is one of the most complex characters ever to appear in a play, his range of emotion and depth of complexity presenting a supreme challenge to the actor. The play is also a great romance, tragic as it is, and contains much magnificent poetry, including many romantic lines that rival the best of Keats and Yates. I referred to the play as a "pseudo-history" because it uses the real Cyrano de Bergerac as a basis for the play's title character, referring to real events in his life and extrapolating from there in the grand Dumas style. Those who disparage the play as unrealistic or idealistic are missing the point, not to mention the heart, of the play. This is an epic play in the grand French Romantic tradition; actions are deliberately fanciful, circumstances abound, and actions and situations are occasionally hyperbolic. This is all by design; therein lays the play's appeal. Rostand, in writing it, shows his complete mastery of the art. His ability to take Cyrano, who comes off as such as so pompously arrogant in the first act, and make him imminently lovable by the end of the play is a testament to his brilliance. The quasi-love triangle is also very effective; through it, Rostand is able to comment on the fleetingness and sometimes randomness of love without being too heavy-handed. The suspense is omnipresent, tragedy always looms just around the corner, but a laugh is never too far away. For those who love poetry or romance, this work is an absolute must. Emotions hit a fever pitch at several points in the play; it will reduce many to tears, as it almost did me. This is an absolute and essential masterpiece that remains a cherished classic in the annals of writing for the stage.Book Review: Superb.
Summary: 5 Stars
Trying not to sound redundant, this play certainly was meritorious of its praise over the centuries. The story wondrously exemplified the charming aspects of Cyrano's character that enticed the very core of me. I found that the theme of people exaggerating their own flaws, that aid the destruction of their self esteem, was accurately portrayed. This play is definitely the foundation of the classic story line of a person assisting another with a loved one, with the realization that the loved one is actually falling in love with the puppeteer, if that makes sense. Although the format of the poetic form might render many readers confused, it represents the complex depiction of early European art.
-DN
Book Review: a true love story
Summary: 3 Stars
In my opinion, Cyrano De Bergerac would have been much better as a novel, rather than a play. However, the story line was smart and clever but got to be a bit confusing throughout some parts due to the play form. I do reccomend this book to somebody interested in plays, and love stories. Cyrano De Bergerac shows you 3 main characters who are truly in love.Book Review: tres tres bein
Summary: 5 Stars
Cyrano De Bergerac is a moving tale about looking past appearances. its thought provoking and enlightening, and it reveals the profoundness that rests wihtin the human soul. it is about facing your fears and going after your dreams only to understand that true beauty is in the soul.it shows that things are not always what they appear and that people fall in love with your spirit not your face. its meaning is pure and true. it reveals the wonder of the mind and the beauty of the heart! it makes one realize that the heart wants what it knows and the mind knows what it wants!! the author uses irony in a clever and cruel way, showing that tragedy is the key to unlocking doors you previously didnt know existed.