Athaliah A Tragedy, Intended For Reading Only, Translated Into English Blank Verse, From Racine (A. Gombert's Edition, 1825)

Athaliah A Tragedy, Intended For Reading Only, Translated Into English Blank Verse, From Racine (A. Gombert's Edition, 1825) by J. Donkersley brings Jean Racine’s stirring 17th‑century French drama into resonant English blank verse, preserving its grave dignity and biblical intensity. This literary tragedy, adapted from Racine’s Athalie, unfolds against a scriptural backdrop of power, faith, and moral conflict, exploring themes of providence, kingship, and the clash between tyranny and sacred law without sacrificing dramatic force. Donkersley’s translation favors irregular blank verse over rhyme to capture the original’s Hebraic rhythms and tragic cadence; he retains many French names for their euphony and meter while shaping lines to feel natural to English ears. The result is a performable reading edition that emphasizes solemnity and psychological depth rather than theatrical spectacle, making the chorus and prophetic voices feel authentic and emotionally charged. Ideal for lovers of classical literature, students of dramatic translation, and anyone drawn to tragic plays or biblical themes, this audiobook offers a thoughtful, faithful bridge between Racine’s neoclassical mastery and English blank‑verse tradition. Listen for a measured, contemplative rendition of a timeless tragedy.