Deux farces inédites attribuées à la reine Marguerite de Navarre

This slim volume gathers two little‑known French farces that have long been linked to the Renaissance patroness, the queen of Navarre. Issued in the mid‑nineteenth century with a thoughtful introduction and scholarly notes, the collection invites listeners to hear the lively spirit of a time when courtly wit and moral satire intertwined. The editor’s essay frames the pieces within the broader decay and revival of French drama, offering a glimpse of the cultural debates that surrounded their creation.

The first play, “La fille abhorrant mariage,” follows a headstrong young woman who scorns the institution of marriage, only to be drawn into a series of absurd entanglements that expose the pretensions of her suitors and the folly of social expectations. The second, “La Vierge repentie,” turns the trope of chastity on its head, presenting a self‑proclaimed virgin who, after a cascade of comic misunderstandings, confronts the contradictions of piety and desire. Together, the farces sparkle with sharp dialogue, brisk pacing, and a humor that still resonates, while the accompanying notes illuminate their historical roots and the mystery of their attribution.