RACINE Jean Esther. Tragédie tirée de l’escriture Sainte.

Tchemerzine-Scheler, V, 347 ; Le Petite, p. 374 ; Guibert, pp. 95-96 ; Diesbach, Bibliothèque Jean Bonna, XVIIe siècle, 257 (bound with a copy of Athalie).

First edition. The book was issued with a privilege shared between Denys Thierry and Claude Barbin.

The tragedy Esther was written by Racine “in response to the wish of his friend, Mme de Maintenon. The wife of King XIV and founder of the Saint-Cyr institution for young girls, Mme de Maintenon asked the famous Racine to write tragedies from the Bible for the instruction and entertainment of the young ladies of Saint-Cyr” (see V. de Diesbach). The play, performed in sumptuous sets and costumes created especially for the occasion, was first performed before the King on 26 January 1689. It was such a success that Louis XIV rewarded Racine by appointing him Gentilhomme ordinaire de sa Majesté.

Minor wear to the head of spine, otherwise a very fine copy of the issue in large-format