Cyrano de Bergerac, Savinien (1619-1655), French writer, born in Paris. He became a soldier, but soon abandoned this career because of a battle wound. He wrote several tragedies, and then turned his attention to satirical comedies in which he lampooned the customs and beliefs of his time. De Bergerac is credited with many duels, often fought over insults to his unusually large nose, and other escapades which created his reputation as a romantic hero. His most famous works are two prose fantasies about journeys to the moon and the sun, L'Histoire comique des états et empires de la lune (1656) and L'Histoire comique des états et empires du soleil (1662), which were combined and translated as Voyages to the Moon and Sun (1923) by the British writer Richard Aldington. A fictional verse drama concerning Cyrano and his prominent nose was written by Edmond Rostand in 1898, and has been adapted for the screen several times. more info... |
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