Molière The Theory and Practice of Comedy

"The history of ideas provides an important means of understanding and reinterpreting the literature of the past; and in this study Dr. Calder demonstrates the illumination that this informed approach brings to the comedies of Moliere. In the course of this study, the author outlines a fresh theory of classical comedy which applies to the works of other French writers of the 17th century; and the historical reinterpretations of Moliere's two most difficult plays - Le Tartuffe and Dom Juan - break entirely new ground." "Although this is work which specialists will admire, it is also intended to serve as an introduction to Moliere and French classical comedy at large and will be of considerable value to younger students and readers of Moliere in general."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved