Written during the highly successful final years of his life, the plays contained in this edition represent the pinnacle of Moliere's artistry and the most profound demonstration of his vision of humanity: "The Misanthrope," "The Doctor in Spite of Himself," a hilarious example of Molière's long-standing skepticism of the medical profession, "The Miser," "The Shopkeeper Turned Gentleman," "The Impostures of Scapin," "The Learned Women," and "The Imaginary Invalid," the play that Molière appeared in only hours before his death. These works combine all the traditional elements of comedy—wit, slapstick, spectacle and satire, with a certain deep understanding of character that Molière was notorious for. His highly popular work, "The Misanthrope," satirizes the hypocrisies of aristocratic French society, and paints an accurate picture of the upper-class world in which Molière, looked down upon as a playwright, was ultimately denied membership to.
