Trinity Tomes 9 - Agrippa d'Aubigné's Les Tragiques

Agrippa d’Aubigné’s remarkable epic poem, Les Tragiques, was composed in France in the 1570s, in the aftermath of the terrible Massacre of St Bartholomew, and it was first published in 1616.

It sets the recent sufferings of the Protestants in the French Wars of Religion within the overarching context of God’s eternal plan for his chosen faithful. Recording the bitter story of the defeated party, the poet movingly combines depictions of a devastated country, vivid tableaux of the worst atrocities of the Wars, and satirical attacks on leading political and religious figures such as Catherine de’ Medici and the Guise family.

As he narrates a story which he believes must not be forgotten, d`Aubigné develops an innovative French poetic style that deliberately challenges conventions. The complete work has never previously been translated into English. This translation of the entire text is accompanied by illustrations from the period, a full introduction and detailed critical notes, so that it can be read by students and researchers of comparative literature, history and theology as well as specialists of French.

A recording of the session is available on the college YouTube channel - please click here.