La Hollande Malade

The Exeter French Texts series is sponsored by the Department of French, University of Exeter. These editions are works of the past which are important because of their literary and historic value, but which have not been readily accessible to scholars. Each text is accompanied by an introduction, select bibliography and essential notes, all in French. This volume is a critical edition of La Hollande Malade , a comedy in one act by Raymond Poisson. The author was a writer and an actor in the Theatre de Bourgogne in Paris and, in his day, was seen as a rival to Moliere. La Hollande Malade , written in 1673, is a satirical and allegorical comedy. The historical context of this story relates to Louis XIV, who wanted to benefit from the prosperity of the Netherlands. This prosperity derived from trade, fishing and publishing, and threatened other European countries. Louis was allied to England to help fight the war against the maritime Hollande . The symboic way in which this story is told takes the form of a countess suffering from illness, with other people symbolizing countries who wish to give her medicine in order to cure her.