# Jean Racine

## Biography

Jean Racine was a celebrated French dramatist, born in La Ferté-Milon in December 1639. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised under the strict Jansenist tradition at Port-Royal, where he received a rigorous classical education, deeply influencing his later works. Racine became a master of French classical tragedy, known for his elegant use of the alexandrine verse and his psychological insights into human passion. His plays often drew on Greek mythology and history, exploring themes of obsessive love, fate, and moral struggle. Among his most famous tragedies are "Andromaque," "Britannicus," "Bérénice," and his masterpiece, "Phèdre." Though he achieved significant literary success and was elected to the Académie Française, he eventually retired from the theater to serve as a royal historiographer for King Louis XIV. Racine passed away in Paris in April 1699, leaving behind a profound legacy in French literature.

## Books

- [Phaedra](https://samolit.com/books/96368)