Phaedra
Phaedra, first performed in 1677, is Jean Racine's tragedy drawn from Euripides and Seneca. While her husband Theseus, king of Athens, is believed dead, Phaedra confesses her guilty passion for her stepson Hippolytus, who loves the captive princess Aricia. When Theseus returns alive, Phaedra's nurse Oenone accuses Hippolytus to protect her mistress, and the king's curse sets the catastrophe in motion. Racine concentrates the action into a single day and a few searing confrontations, and Phaedra, lucid about the passion that destroys her, is one of the great roles of the French stage. This blank-verse translation is by Robert Bruce Boswell, with a short introductory note on Racine. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first act is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Phaedra
Phaedra by Jean Racine can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Phaedra online?
Yes. Phaedra opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Phaedra free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Phaedra is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Phaedra in the public domain?
Yes. Phaedra by Jean Racine is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Robert Bruce Boswell. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Phaedra?
About 57 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Phaedra?
Phaedra by Jean Racine is filed under "Drama" in the Vinteuil library.
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