Carcanet Press - Cyrano De Bergerac

Description
Excerpt
Translator
Awards
Reviews

You and the Muse are total strangers, but
If you did happen tae meet, she's stoap yer strut.
She'd scunner, fatso, at yer wobblin fruit,
And kick yer backside wi her classic boot!

--Cyrano

Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, an 'heroic comedy' of love and honour, has enjoyed various revivals in the cinema and on the stage, and undergoes yet another metamorphosis in this brilliant translation by Edwin Morgan. Made for the Communicado Theatre Company's production at the 1992 Edinburgh festival, it was a triumphant success with public and critics alike: it won a Fringe First award and also a special prize from the Hamada foundation, administered by the Scotsman. Morgan's Glasgow-based Scots version, with its verve and energy, reinvigorates rostand's classic with a sharp immediacy of both humour and pathos. There is a virtuousity of language that pleases the ear, but it is never allowed to override the emotional charge this famour story delivers.

Edwin Morgan

Edwin Morgan (1920-2010) was born in Glasgow. He served with the RAMC in the Middle East during World War II. He became lecturer in English at the University of Glasgow, where he had studied, and retired as titular Professor in 1980. He was Glasgow's first Poet Laureate and from 2004 until ... read more

Awards won by Edwin Morgan Winner, 2000 Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry

Praise for Edwin Morgan 'distinctly and excitingly nonconformist [...] they stunningly convey the poet's love for Glasgow. The traditional structure is interjected with Scottish language and anecdotes, making it a thought-provoking read.'

Scottish Field

'A broad celebration of one of the most lively and creative writers of his time'

Mike Ferguson, Stride Magazine
'For readers new to Morgan, it forms a perfect introduction, showcasing his fearless experimentation... For those who already know Morgan's work, this selection is a welcome romp of rediscovery. It offers a reminder that he masters every form - from sonnets to strict rhyme schemes with free rhythm to the disintegrating word curtains of some of his early concrete poems - and gilds them all with the humour and humanity that infuse his own effervescent voice.... He never shrinks from the darkness but the shimmering beauty of his words somehow makes it more bearable.'

Fiona Rintoul, The Herald

'Thank God, thank whatever all-seeing quick-witted deity you like, we have Edwin Morgan to show us how to live, and keep living..."pleasure" is nowhere strong enough to convey the joyous energy of his work.'

Kathleen Jamie

'Edwin Morgan's translation of twent-five poems into Scots, now reissued after almost half a century, finesses one difficulty by substituting another. Wi Haill Voice gives Mayakovsky a shout from the streets without making him a Dickensian exercised in dialect - Scots provides the necessary sense of estrangement.'
William Logan, The New Criterion

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Cyrano De Bergerac Edmond Rostand Translated by Edwin Morgan RRP: GBP 14.99 Discount: 10% You Save: GBP 1.50 Price: GBP 13.49 Available This title is available for academic inspection (paperback only). Paperback ISBN: 978 1 857540 28 4 Categories: French, Scottish, Translation Imprint: Carcanet Poetry Published: November 1996 216 x 140 x 10 mm 144 pages Publisher: Carcanet Press Description Excerpt Translator Awards Reviews You and the Muse are total strangers, but If you did happen tae meet, she's stoap yer strut. She'd scunner, fatso, at yer wobblin fruit, And kick yer backside wi her classic boot! --Cyrano Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac, an 'heroic comedy' of love and honour, has enjoyed various revivals in the cinema and on the stage, and undergoes yet another metamorphosis in this brilliant translation by Edwin Morgan. Made for the Communicado Theatre Company's production at the 1992 Edinburgh festival, it was a triumphant success with public and critics alike: it won a Fringe First award and also a special prize from the Hamada foundation, administered by the Scotsman. Morgan's Glasgow-based Scots version, with its verve and energy, reinvigorates rostand's classic with a sharp immediacy of both humour and pathos. There is a virtuousity of language that pleases the ear, but it is never allowed to override the emotional charge this famour story delivers. Edwin Morgan Edwin Morgan (1920-2010) was born in Glasgow. He served with the RAMC in the Middle East during World War II. He became lecturer in English at the University of Glasgow, where he had studied, and retired as titular Professor in 1980. He was Glasgow's first Poet Laureate and from 2004 until ... read more Awards won by Edwin Morgan Winner, 2000 Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry Praise for Edwin Morgan 'distinctly and excitingly nonconformist [...] they stunningly convey the poet's love for Glasgow. The traditional structure is interjected with Scottish language and anecdotes, making it a thought-provoking read.' Scottish Field 'A broad celebration of one of the most lively and creative writers of his time' Mike Ferguson, Stride Magazine 'For readers new to Morgan, it forms a perfect introduction, showcasing his fearless experimentation... For those who already know Morgan's work, this selection is a welcome romp of rediscovery. It offers a reminder that he masters every form - from sonnets to strict rhyme schemes with free rhythm to the disintegrating word curtains of some of his early concrete poems - and gilds them all with the humour and humanity that infuse his own effervescent voice.... He never shrinks from the darkness but the shimmering beauty of his words somehow makes it more bearable.' Fiona Rintoul, The Herald 'Thank God, thank whatever all-seeing quick-witted deity you like, we have Edwin Morgan to show us how to live, and keep living..."pleasure" is nowhere strong enough to convey the joyous energy of his work.' Kathleen Jamie 'Edwin Morgan's translation of twent-five poems into Scots, now reissued after almost half a century, finesses one difficulty by substituting another. Wi Haill Voice gives Mayakovsky a shout from the streets without making him a Dickensian exercised in dialect - Scots provides the necessary sense of estrangement.' William Logan, The New Criterion	Share this... Quick Links Carcanet Celebrates 50 Years! Anvil Press Poetry Aspects of Portugal Audio Books Carcanet Classics Carcanet Fiction Carcanet Film Carcanet Poetry FyfieldBooks Lintott Press Little Island Press Lives and Letters OxfordPoets PN Review Sheep Meadow Press The Carcanet Blog New Poetries VIII: Judith Willson on Rebecca Hurst read more Apocalypse: James Keery read more Rebecca Hurst: NPVIII: Meet the Contributor read more New Poetries VIII: Joey Connolly on Hal Coase read more Hal Coase: NPVIII: Meet the Contributor read more New Poetries VIII: Katherine Horrex on Holly Hopkins read more
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Cyrano De Bergerac

Edmond Rostand

Translated by Edwin Morgan