Rare Books The Complete Plays of Jean Racine Volume 1 only Modern Library 1967 French Literature Collectible Books for Readers Gift

This is a very good hardcover with dust jacket. 1967 Modern Library. This copy is good and solid inside and out. The pages are clean with only light natural tanning from age. No foxing or marks seen. The binding is tight and straight. Black hardcover boards under jacket are very good with only a hint of shelf wear. The accompanying dust jacket is clean with only light shelf wear BUT NOTE: dust jacket is neatly price clipped inside front cover (see photo). Crown octavo book size or 5.75" x 8" with 444 pages. Final pages in the book gives a complete list of titles in the Modern Library series.


Modern Library began publishing series of books in 1917. they were extremely popular, especially with students, as they were copies of great literature and topics that were priced for the general public. The publishing firm of Boni Liveright started the series, as the idea stemmed from Albert Boni. The first title published was The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. Early editions were published in "pocket book" size for easy carrying to read anywhere and they were bound in leatherette. In 1927, Random House was borne out of Modern Library and pictorial dust jackets were introduced to the series, along with hardcover boards. As publishing changed, Modern Library fell to the wayside but was "reintroduced" in the 1970's. Early editions are collectibles and later titles remain favorites as many collect Modern Library editions of all ages.

This copy of The Complete Plays of Jean Racine from Modern Library is Volume One ONLY. The plays are translated into English verse with a foreword and notes from Samuel Solomon. There is an intro by Katherine Wheatley. Volume One contains the following plays: The Theban Brothers, Alexander the Great, Andromache, The Litigants, Britannicus and Berenice.

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