While using, with some of my classes, the excellent volume entitled Eighteenth Century French Plays,e edited by Clarence D. Brenner and Nolan A. Goodyear, I conceived the idea of compiling a similar volume dealing with the nineteenth century drama in the hope that such a work would render useful service to teachers ans students. As in the above-named volume, there are in this one two kinds of introduction, one giving a bird's-eye view of the development of the drama from the Revolution to the end of the century, the others dealing more in detail with the various authors included in this collection. The bibliographies accompanying those introductions, though far from complete, contain it is hoped, the most indispensable and most useful items. Since the volume is intended for advances students, the linguistic notes have been kept down to what I considered a minimum, which, in the case of Cyrano de Bergerac, is still not inconsiderable. For the remainder, ani school dictionary will easily supply what additional help may be needed.
About the choice of material in this volume, opinions may well differ. Every one realizes that the nineteen plays here presented form but a small fraction of the tremendous volume of stage productions that saw the footlights in Paris between 1800 and 1900. My aim was not to pick out the best, or the most interesting from the playgoer's point of view ; it was rather to call attention to a number of authors whose works marked a stage in the evolution of French dramatic art, and while even in this selection I was, from material necessity, compelled to limit myself, it is hoped that the works included in the volume are sufficiently representative of the divers tendencies that have characterized the French stage during the past century.
I desire to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Kenneth McKenzie of Princeton University, whose helpfulness, kindness, and patience have never failed me during the preparation of this volume. Thanks are due also to my son, Elbert B.O. Borgerhoff, instructor at Princeton, who has given me valuable help with the notes. Neither should bear the least blame for any of the short-comings of the book.
