making this a great read for fans of Corneille’s.

A welcome addition to any book collection, it’s ideal for dipping in and out of. Considered to be the founder of French tragedy, Pierre Corneille (1606 – 1684) was born in Normandy. While he was expected to become a lawyer like his father, Corneille's exposure to acting at college sowed the seeds for his literary career. After a short stint as a judicial officer, Corneille began writing plays and his first, a comedy called ‘Mélite,’ was performed in Paris to critical acclaim. Six years later, under the employ of Cardinal Richelieu, he was to write his first tragedy, ‘Médée.’ Subsequently, Corneille wrote his finest play, ‘Le Cid,’ which was adapted for the screen long after his death, starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. His final play, ‘Suréna,’ was published in 1674.