The Idle Woman's Reviews > Cyrano: The Life and Legend of Cyrano de Bergerac

This book has a mission: to rescue the real Cyrano de Bergerac from the shadow cast by Rostand's immensely popular stage and screen version. In doing so, Ishbel Addyman conjures up a surprisingly modern figure, who was always alert to publicity opportunities and who constantly questioned the assumptions of the church. He was not only a formidable swordsman but also one of the earliest science fiction writers, creating stories in which his hero travels in a rocket to the moon and the sun. Addyman clearly adores her subject and her enthusiasm is genuinely catching, but unfortunately the writing itself has some weaknesses: sentences are short and choppy and the use of punctuation is erratic. There could also be more focus within the chapters, which tend to dance all over the place. It's a shame, because there's no doubt that Cyrano was a fascinating and controversial figure, but this biography just doesn't quite do justice to him.

For a longer review please see my blog:
http://theidlewoman.blogspot.co.uk/20...

P.S. Please note that I have the UK edition: "Cyrano: The Life and Legend of Cyrano de Bergerac".