Affection I can endure, affectation I abhor. Empty phrases, meaningless gestures of faked good-will. These affable dispensers of embraces make me ill. Disgusted with French society where powdered fops gossip in code and bejewelled coquettes whisper behind fans, poet Alceste embarks on a one-man crusade against fakery, frippery and forked tongues. But could the woman he adores be the worst culprit of them all? And in this rarefied world will his revolution prove merely revolting? Considered by many to be Molière’s best work, The Misanthrope was first performed in 1666 in Paris by the...

A collection of poems by Roger McGough and Christina Rosetti. At Key Stage 2 Wordsmith gives you 'single voice' collections of poetry. This approach enables children to familiarise themselves with the poets as individuals, learning about their lives and inspirations to help bring their work to life.