Coriolanus

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.3

Word count: 212K words
Chapters: 22

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Coriolan by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: French, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Mar 9, 2005

Editor's review

This is the French version of Shakespeare's late Roman tragedy Coriolanus, released by Project Gutenberg. The play draws on the political and military conflicts of the early Roman Republic, and its protagonist is a general of outstanding military achievement who is driven to ruin by arrogance and political naivety. The work sharply depicts the tension between public opinion, power, and individual character, and is an important text for understanding Shakespeare's political thought. The French translation gives French readers and learners of French a direct route into the play, and is also well suited to parallel reading with the English original, allowing readers to observe how a translator handles rhetoric and tone of voice. When reading, pay attention to the dense speeches and dialogue, which both drive the plot and reveal character. Readers unfamiliar with Roman history are advised to grasp the basic historical outline before entering the text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

French-reading literature lovers who enjoy Shakespeare's plays
Students and scholars studying Shakespeare's Roman plays and political themes
Language learners who wish to read a Shakespeare translation in parallel
Readers interested in the history of the Roman Republic and questions of power

Not a good fit for

Readers who cannot yet read French and want only a Chinese translation
General fiction readers looking for light entertainment
Readers with little patience for drama and long speeches

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the basic historical background of Coriolanus and the relationships among the characters.
Compare with the English original or a Chinese translation to see how key speeches are handled.
Read act by act, reviewing after each act how the characters' positions shift.
Focus on the dialogue conflicts between the protagonist and the plebeians and tribunes.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this edition in French or English?

According to the metadata, the book's language is marked as French: it is the French version of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, released by Project Gutenberg. English readers who want the original will need to find an English edition separately.

Can I read this without having read other Shakespeare plays?

Yes, but it helps to learn first about the early Roman Republic and the relationships among the characters. The play's political themes are concentrated and the dialogue is dense; on a first reading, a plot summary or introductory guide can make it easier to get into.

Is this book suitable for learners of French?

It suits learners with intermediate to advanced French reading ability. Shakespeare's language is rhetorically dense, and even in translation many speech-like expressions remain, which may be hard for beginners; an annotated edition or parallel reading is recommended.

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About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.