Edmond Rostand Notes

Born in 1868 

Spent childhood in Marseilles and was born into an artistic family. His father was a poet and professor and his uncle was a composer. 

Rostand was a brilliant student and studied law in Paris under pressure from his father. 

His love for literature prompted him to begin writing plays and poems, and he was published by the age of 16. 

At 22, he married Rosemonde Gerard, also a poet. 

Production of the play, The Princess Far Away, starred the most famous actress of the day, Sarah Bernhardt, who was a good friend of Rostand’s. 

Rostand’s early works feature poetic sentiments and noble ideas. 

Cyrano de Bergeac was published in 1897 and is considered Rostand’s masterpiece. It was very different from mainstream plays at the time, which were very realistic and often addressed social problems such as poverty, illness, and crime. 

Realism emphasizes objective documentation of everyday life, usually working-class life, and rejects the idealization of glamor. This movement developed into naturalism, which shares the same goals as realism but also stresses the governing of human life by natural laws. 

Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, a play about romantic heroes, beautiful maidens, sword fights, and the power of poetry and art seemed hopelessly out of date. Despite this, when the curtain fell after the first performance, the audience applauded for an hour. 

The play had universal appeal – audiences recognized a true portrayal of the human condition. Cyrano bears the marking of a real human being – although he possesses great gifts, he also carries a heavy burden this is as plain as the prominent nose on his face. His seeming self-confidence is blighted by the belief that his large nose makes him unloveable. He is honorable, self-sacrificing, just, brave, idealistic and loyal.  He keeps his promises, even when they cause him great pain. 

The play is set in france during the years 1640 to 1655 

Rostand followed Cyrano de Bergerac with his second-best work The Eaglet

After The Eaglet, he wrote several more plays and patriotic poems. His health deteriorated, and he moved to southern France.

He died six weeks after World War I at the age of 50.