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A revelatory Comédie Français production of The Misanthrope in 1948 Paris first inspired Wilbur to try his hand at translating Molière, which in the decades to follow has become part of his lifework. These renowned translations have brought one of Western literature’s greatest masters of comedy to English-speaking audiences and readers throughout the world.

“No major American poet today has had a longer or closer relationship with theater than Richard Wilbur. It would be hard to overpraise Wilbur’s special genius for verse translation,” says Gioia.

“My notion of translation is that you try to bring it back alive,” Wilbur explains, “What you want to do is to be as perfectly the slave of it as you can be. My chief virtue as a translator is stubbornness: I will spend a while spring day getting one or two lines right.”

This event celebrates the publication of a new series from TCG Books, with four volumes of Wilbur’s translations for years available only in acting editions—as well as L.A. Theatre Works’ audio theatre collection of some of Molière’s best-loved plays.

Performers