Cyrano De Bergerac by Edmond Rotsand (The Heritage Press)

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1954. The Heritage Press. Beautifully Illustrated throughout. Sandglass pamphlet included.

Slipcase in Very Good condition.

Illustrations by Pierre Brissaud. Translated by Louis Untermeyer.

Set in seventeenth century Paris, the action revolves around the emotional problems of the noble, swashbuckling Cyrano, who, despite his many gifts, feels that no woman can ever love him because he has an enormous nose. Secretly in love with the lovely Roxane, Cyrano agrees to help his inarticulate rival, Christian, win her heart by allowing him to present Cyrano's love poems, speeches, and letters as his own work. Eventually Christian recognizes that Roxane loves him for Cyrano's qualities, not his own, and he asks Cyrano to confess his identity to Roxane; Christian then goes off to a battle that proves fatal. Cyrano remains silent about his own part in Roxane's courtship. As he is dying years later, he visits Roxane and recites one of the love letters. Roxane realizes that it is Cyrano she loves, and he dies content. Cyrano de Bergerac was based only nominally on the 17th century nobleman of the same name, known for his bold adventures and large nose.