A captivating classic which has withstood the test of time, Cyrano de Bergerac is manna for my romantic soul. The play set in Paris in during the reigns of Louis the 13th and Louis the 14th, but written in by Edmond Rostand is loosely based on a real person named Cyrano de Bergerac embellished freely in fiction.
It has resulted in various adaptations on screen and on stage and it has never failed to tug at my heartstrings in any of its avatars. Cyrano de Bergerac was written in alexandrine verses. If you must read a translation, stay away from the online public domain one which is quite awful. He was born to play the part. Cyrano de Bergerac is a flamboyant, funny, witty, proud, short-tempered, courageous, brash and sentimental cadet of Gascony well versed in music, science, philosophy, literature and warfare.
 "Call girl Arras")
He has a penchant for poetry. He is a larger than life character- a tad over the top and theatrical with a touch of Romeo and a shade of Don Quixote-the epitome of chivalry vanquishing enemies with ease- in short, a force to be reckoned with. Not quite for he has an enormous nose which makes him the butt of ridicule and is the bane of his existence.
This phenomenally prominent proboscis also prevents him from declaring his love for his cousin Roxanne as he fears her rejection. The two team up together with their respective qualities of beauty and wit to seduce Roxanne. A kiss, when all said and done, what is it?
There is a third character, Comte de Guiche who is also in love with Roxanne and who tries to thwarts their attempts. In the end, the resourceful Roxanne outwits the Comte and succeeds in marrying Christian. Right after the wedding, Christian has to leave for the front even before their marriage has been consummated. Roxanne falls in love with the soul of the poet and declares to the troubled Christian that even if he were to turn ugly she would love him for his poetic ingenuity.
