In seventeenth-century France, long-nosed Cyrano de Bergerac, poet and master swordsman, secretly loves his beautiful cousin Roxane. Cyrano writes passionate love letters to her but, knowing that he is too ugly to win her, he gives them to Christian, a handsome rival, so that he may woo her. Mc Caughrean’s retelling of Edmond Rostand’s play is superb. The setting of the story and the major players, Cyrano, Roxane, Christian, and the Comte de Guice, are clearly delineated. This is a classic love story that will appeal to today’s young adults because it is so beautifully crafted . ca

Originally published as Cyrano: From the Play by Edmond Rostand: For Anyone Who’s Ever Been Hopelessly in Love by Oxford University Press Great Britain, in 2006.

Cyrano de Bergerac is a flamboyant character and a skilled swordsman, not in the least afraid of drawing attention to himself in public-for he can be highly amusing, even at his own expense, with jokes about his enormous nose. But he has a weakness: he has fallen in love with his beautifulcousin Roxane, and because of his own appearance is too ashamed to declare his love. Meanwhile Roxane is besotted with a handsome, but foolish young man, Christian, in the same company of guards as Cyrano. Cyrano is devastated by this, and horrified by her request that he should protect the youngman and encourage him to write her love letters. Writing letters is something Christian can't do-but Cyrano generously offers to help, even if it means breaking his own heart. Soon Cyrano pours out his feelings in the most romantic letters ever. The question is will Roxane ever discover the truth?And if she does will it be too late for Cyrano?