Gradjanin plemić: komedija-balet u pet činova
The Citizen Nobleman (1670) is one of Molière's most famous and most performed comedies. It is a comedy-ballet in five acts, written for the court spectacle of Louis XIV, with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully.
The plot follows a wealthy but naive citizen Mr. Jourdain, who dreams of noble status. He hires teachers of dance, fencing, philosophy and music, spends huge amounts of money on luxury and allows himself to be deceived by nobles and charlatans. The funniest moment is when he is proclaimed a "mamamusi" - a fictional high nobleman - in a Turkish ceremony.
This edition was published by the reputable Zagreb publishing house St. Kugli. It was translated by Iso Velikanović, one of the most prolific and respected Croatian translators from French in the first half of the 20th century. The translation is classic, lively and humorous, and for a long time considered standard in the Croatian language.
The comedy is an eternal satire on vanity, social pretense and class ambitions. Molière asks with laughter: can someone buy noble status and culture with money? The answer is, of course, humorously devastating.
One copy is available
- Damaged covers
