Cyrano de Bergerac's Comical History of the Moon

Cyrano de Bergerac's Comical History of the Moon

Entitled: "The government of the world in the moon: a comical history" by Cyrano de Bergerac, 1659, frontispiece. Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac (March 6, 1619 - July 28, 1655) was a French novelist, playright, epistolarian and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th century. Today he is best known as the inspiration for Edmond Rostand's most famous drama Cyrano de Bergerac which, although it includes elements of his life, also contains invention and myth. His works, both published posthumously, L'Autre Monde: ou les États et Empires de la Lune (Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon) (1657) and Les États et Empires du Soleil (The States and Empires of the Sun) (1662) are classics of early modern science fiction. In the former, Cyrano travels to the moon using rockets powered by firecrackers and meets the inhabitants. The moon-men have four legs, musical voices, and firearms that shoot game and cook it. He died in 1655 at the age of 36. There is strong evidence to support the theory that his death was a result of a botched assassination attempt as well as further damage to his health caused by a period of confinement in a private asylum, orchestrated by his enemies.

Album / Science Source / Folger Shakespeare Library

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2308 x 4050 px | 26.7 MB

19.5 x 34.3 cm | 7.7 x 13.5 in (300 dpi)