What to read after Cyrano de Bergerac?

Edmond Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac' remains an exemplar of literary craftsmanship, weaving poignancy with wit in a tale of unrequited love and self-acceptance. This comedic play, characterized by its heroic-comedy genre, enthralls through the titular character's brilliant wordplay and grandiose actions juxtaposed against his acute self-consciousness regarding his prominently large nose. Hinging on the incongruities of personal valor and internal doubt, Rostand's dialogue sparkles with lyrical panache, set against the backdrop of 17th-century French society, which also subtly critiques the often superficial values of Rostand's own 19th-century milieu. A master of the romantic dramatist tradition, Rostand penned 'Cyrano de Bergerac' at a time when naturalistic theater dominated the stage. It was against this artistic landscape that he sought to revive the flamboyant and fanciful swashbuckling era, bringing forth a protagonist whose chivalric valor is shadowed only by his poignant self-effacement. The result is an enduring legacy of a character that has become an archetype for the tragicomic hero, and it is through this legacy Rostand explores the space between idealism and realism, and the human condition's entwinement with both. 'Cyrano de Bergerac' is recommended to lovers of classical theater and those who revel in the intricacies of language and the yearnings of the human heart. It's a literary conquest for readers who appreciate the enduring themes of love, honor, and beauty, transcending the superficial judgments of society. Rostand's timeless work encourages us to look beyond appearances to the soul that lies beneath, making this play as relevant today as it was in the belle époque.