Cyrano de Bergerac, by Edmond Rostand, trans. Christopher Fry (CUP, £5.99 in UK)

Rostand's play (100 years old next year) has been rather contemptuously treated by serious critics, yet it continues to hold the stage and has been filmed at least twice. Its particular blend of braggadoccio, rhetoric, romance and sentiment belongs to its period, but in performance it still "works" provided that the lead actor has the measure of his high powered part. There have been many English translations, but this one is rather special in that it is the work of a distinguished poetic playwright and has been successfully put on the stage.