The Complete Plays of Jean Racine: Volume 5: Britannicus by Jean Racine

3.43 AVERAGE

lisaam's profile picture

lisaam's review against another edition

3.75
challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ancab's review against another edition

2.75
challenging reflective fast-paced

whilhelminaharker's review against another edition

4.0

Tyranny always has a bright beginning


This doesn't get really good until the final third or so, when the action really kicks in, but it's still a chilling insight into the banal beginnings of tyranny, and a careful snapshot of a moment in which the rot of madness and despair is starting to creep into both a nation's consciousness, and the mind of a troubled young man with far too much power. Even as we, the audience, know what is to become of the young Nero, it's hard not to feel empathy for him, and not to find ourselves hoping that maybe fate will be rejected and he will choose to listen to the angel on his shoulder instead of the devil. And just like everyone in his life, we can't help but feel a little betrayed by what he becomes in the end.


Although maybe just skim over the scenes between Britannicus and Junia because good GOD, they have to be the two of the most boring characters ever.

louiseackermann's review against another edition

Toujours un plaisir de lire les vers de Racine (((:
crouteurpro's profile picture

crouteurpro's review against another edition

4.25
dark tense fast-paced

sabienb's review against another edition

3.0
dark tense medium-paced

unetortueliseuse's review against another edition

5.0
La pièce est géniale. La préface est ennuyante... (pas celle de Racine)
paperrcuts's profile picture

paperrcuts's review against another edition

1.0
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deslauriers's profile picture

deslauriers's review against another edition

My new favorite drama play ! I originally only bought it because it was really cheap and I wanted to read some classics. I then found out it was about Nero, who's my favorite Roman emperor, so I was utterly excited, and I literally enjoyed every single part of the book. The story was incredible, beautifully written and the end was breathtaking. I already loved Racine, but I'm definitly going to read more of his work.
juju109's profile picture

juju109's review against another edition

3.0
Lu été 2016. Je suis passée à côté de pas mal d’éléments parce que je ne connaissais pas bien le contexte historique, me semble-t-il. Pas ma tragédie préférée de Racine.