The Misanthrope and Tartuffe

Molière understood profoundly what makes us noble, pathetic, outrageous and funny, and in his splendid comedies satirized human folly to perfection. One of the best of his plays – and one of the greatest of all comedies – is The Misanthrope, first performed in 1666, when the King of France himself had assumed patronage of Molière's company, and the actor/playwright was at the height of his career. Translated into English verse and introduced by Richard Wilbur.