The Royal Favourite, written in 1665 by Marie-Catherine Desjardins, explores the cronyism and hypocrisy that surround a royal court not unlike that of Louis XIV. Moncade, favourite minister to the King of Barcelona, fears that he has no worth beyond his work – he is only loved for his popularity with the king. When he expresses these doubts to the monarch, disaster follows, and possibly imprisonment. Can Moncade’s personal life survive the demands of an absolutist ruler?

Although largely unknown to English-speaking readers, Marie-Catherine Desjardins was one of the most popular writers of her day, and The Royal Favourite was the only play by a woman that was performed for Louis XIV and the court at Versailles. Desjardins incorporated dangerous themes into the story, but she balanced these against terrific comedic sketches that softened the seriousness of the content.

This line-by-line translation, rendered for the first time in rhymed English couplets, allows readers to understand the original text and experience its musical qualities. The inclusion of an extensive Introduction and in-text notes are intended to create a ‘thick’ translation that avoids the illusion of transparency while still providing a workable script for researchers and theatrical troupes.