The classic Cyrano is a gripping tale for lonely hearts the world over. Cyrano's fierce independence and stunning intellect are the very laudable features of his composition that make him the most miserable. No foe stood a chance against Cyrano -- not even Cyrano! He could defeat anyone with flair and cunning, including his own confidence when it came to love. He failed to recognize that all humans are flawed. He, on the outside, and Christian on the inside. Everyone should read the original by Rostand, if only to recognize the myriad songs, books and movies which steal elements from this classic. Examples: Songs -- Billy Joel "Sleeping With the Television On" sings "If only I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool who makes mistakes..." Movies: Cyrano adaptations in several languages; Roxanne with Steve Martin; the ending of The Truth About Cats and Dogs has one of the characters mutter "I don't want to lose you twice.", which is Roxanne's line at the end of Cyrano.

My rating is for the play; I've only glanced at the English translation. I'm not too sure if this play should really be called "An heroic comedy", I find it more to be a tragedy. A play of tragic unrequited love, sacrifice, courage and charm, with some amusing moments, for instance when members of the aristocracy and others are made to look foolish compared to the wit and heart of Cyrano, or the scene where Christian and Cyrano meet for the first time.
Cyrano was a real French poet of the 17th century. A bit of knowledge about his time helps to appreciate the play...for instance, one of the reasons why Christian feels unable to speak to Roxanne with his own words is because she was part of that fashionable trend amongst certain ladies of society called "les precieuses" (ridiculed by Moliere) characterized by an overblown admiration of fancy talk, excessive romantic sensibility, and intellectual posturing. Christian, a man of perhaps more basic passions and few words with women, but in no way a dummy (see his wit when meeting Cyrano), rightly felt inhibited before the precious Roxanne.
"Cyrano" was written at the end of the 19th century, is neo-romantic in style and one of the last French plays to be written in verse rather than prose. The charming, witty and poetic ryhme of its verse, which fully develops each of the characters in keeping with the play's romantic theme, is what makes it so wonderful. It is like a poem. In translation the play therefore loses much of its grace and beauty.
The play has been filmed a few times. Skip the Steve Martin "Roxanne" movie (very loosely based on the play) and see the real thing: "Cyrano de Bergerac" directed by J.P. Rappeneau with G. Depardieu in the leading role. Both the film and Depardieu are absolutely fantastic and very true to the play. The lines in the film follow (excepting one or two pages) the original lines of the play.

I love this play! It has wit, comedy, adventure, danger and intellectual swordplay. But most importantly, it has a character(Cyrano) who values his life and principles above all else. Read it now! Also, if you enjoyed Cyrano as much as I did, check out "The Lost Sonnets of Cyrano de Bergerac" by James Carcioppolo. I read it hoping for more of Cyrano's spirit and love of life; I was not disapointed!

Cyrano is, and has been for many years, my favorite play. I've read two translations and am planning to read a third soon. In Cyrano, Rostand has created a character I and many others can empathize with. If you're reading Cyrano for the first time, I would reccommend Bair's translation, as it has been rendered into more modern English. However, Hooker's translation often captures the beauty and poetry of the language, whereas Bair is more prosaic. I highly reccommend reading this book, and if you can see it performed somewhere, you're in for a real treat. "Philosopher, scientist, poet, swordsman, musician, aerial traveler, maker of sharp retorts, and lover. . ." I hope that you enjoy making Cyrano's acquaintance as much as I have!

This is the best play-book-poetry every written. I sat down, started reading, and didn't get up until I was finished, which was quite a while since when I got to the end I was crying so hard I could barely read. Anyone who doesn't understand Cyrano isn't a poet or an author, OR a dreamer. This is the classic tale of one who finds himself unworthy, but who will settle for NO LESS than true love-- that, and many, many other things it would take hours to expound upon. Truly, the greatest work of all time.

Anthony Burgess steps out of his psycodelic shell to bring a down to earth translation of the worlds greatest love story. Rostand created a tale true to the human heart filled with romance and poetry, but it took Anthony Burgess to bring the story to the modern reader. There are no 'thee's' or 'thou's' in this adaption, just natural, modern writing. In essence, Burgess did not translate Rostands classic play, he wrote the story over as a poem. Burgess did Rostand the greatest honour, making Cyrano De Bergerac, a wonderfull romance, and beautiful story accessable to modern audiences

If there's one thing that has me miffed, it's those ridiculous academic critiques of this play. Yes, it's unrealistic, yes, it's energetic to the point of insanity, yes, the character of Cyrano is particularly vulnerable to the ridiculous Freudian analyses that Lit. professors are obsessed with. But the essence of this work, what makes it breathe, are the very qualities so mocked by elitists: its color, its flamboyance, and above all its wonderfully unashamed idealism.

First of all, this is entertaining reading at its best: a combination of witty repartee and laugh-out-loud humor, balanced with emotional depth that is subtle yet wrenching in its intensity. With just a few lines the scenes come alive, with characters whose brash gallantry is reminiscent of Dumas' Musketeers.

All this virtuoso treatment finds a focal point in the character of Cyrano, who is at once comic and tragic: his biting wit provides a facade for a soul in torment, for his sensitivity to beauty makes his own ugliness that much more painful. Yet there is so much fire and pride in Cyrano that never once does he beg for our pity, and endures the pain of thwarted love with the same charisma and bravery with which he does battle.

The contradiction between Cyrano as he is inside--a veritable furnace of eloquent passion--and his markedly ugly exterior, is his tragedy. Through the vehicle of this contradiction, Edmond Rostand explores the nature of love, particularly regarding how much of it is dependant upon exteriors. Yet this theme does not smother the tale, which is such a heady mixture of beauty, hilarity and subtle insight that it fairly intoxicates. My only complaint, upon finishing it, was that it had to end.

I enjoy to read that fantastique book.it speak about the short life of the last Napoleon called l'Aiglon. It is written in a romantic way.You live a period of the French history throught the life of that young man whom destiny was to be emperor but who was to ill to become one.It is a sad book but very well done.You will remember that book for ever.

When you have to make an important decision that is between true love and a friendship, what are you to do? I'm sure that was a question that ran through Cyranno de Bergerac's mind all the time. Cyranno was a writer with beautiful words, but he also was a fighter in the battlefield. The fighter in him created honor, while his words created love, but not for himself but for his friend Christian.
This book had a huge turning point when Christian declared his love for Roxanne and asked for Cyranno's help. This caused Roxanne to fall in love with Cyranno's words but Christians face. This turning point showed the true emotion of Cyranno and how he really felt about Roxanne.
I think Edmond Rostand is a good writer because he makes you think. It is sort of like he makes the book seem like a puzzle. I also liked it because as the book went on he tried to create some comedy with it. I would recommend this book because it keeps you interested and always thinking. This book would appeal to people who are interested in romance, mixed with confusion and plays

Accomplished stage and screen actor, Mr. Langella mentions in the preface to Cyrano that adapting Edmond Rostand's classic Cyrano de Bergerac had been nagging away at him for many years. As an actor who had played the part of the long-nosed swordsman twice in his career he realized that the challenge existed to strip Rostand's Cyrano down to a minimal cast, with less battle scenes, no more hordes of nuns and reducing the epic music that accompanied the original. Langella's attempt at paring down this classic makes for a very enjoyable read. What prevails by the final page of the book is the realization that Langella has, by taking away some of the pomp and ceremony, left the reader with the realization that this isn't a story about a guy with a big nose but rather one of the most painful love stories ever written. The love triangle that exists between the beautiful Roxane, the handsome, yet tongue-tied Christian and of course, Cyrano the poet has been revamped to appeal to a younger generation. The language is more contemporary than the original and by removing some of the many superfluous characters from the original cast page it is a far quicker read. Langella's Cyrano is however not without it's faults. He tries to add a new twist on the original by focusing too much on the character of Lise, the mute servant girl being in secret admiration of Cyrano. In the same way that Cyrano feels himself too ugly to be noticed by Roxane, Cyrano is considered at fault for never recognizing the adoring Lise. Perhaps if this adaptation was actually seen on stage this sub-plot might make more sense, but as a reader it seems an unnecessary part of the plot to focus on. In conclusion, Langella has done a fine job. It's certainly no classic but it is a great attempt at giving Rostand a new contemporary feel. I would certainly recommend readers getting back in touch with the most famous long-nosed literary character to grace the pages of a book. It won't disappoint!