One of 80 copies on Rives paper with the suite in black of the 35 compositions (no. 45).
Les Plaideurs, first performed in 1668, contains several of Racine’s most famous lines: “Qui veut voyager loin ménage sa monture,” but also “Si vous parlez toujours, il faut que je me taise,” “on ne court pas deux lièvres à la fois,” “on apprend à hurler avec les loups,” “je dois parler, je parle, j’ai parlé,” “l’un veut plaider toujours, l’autre toujours juger” — not to mention the famous “Point d’argent, point de Suisse!”
An unexpected farce within Racine’s output, written between Andromaque and Britannicus, Les Plaideurs is one of his greatest successes — a remarkable feat for a play in alexandrine verse saturated with legal vocabulary. This edition, illustrated by Dubout, is among his finest achievements.
A copy in fine condition, as published, in its publisher’s chemise and slipcase.