Edmond Rostand (1868-1918) was a playwright born out of his time. In a period when naturalism was the order of the day Rostand's plays seemed to hark back to a more romantic, chivalric period. His plays proved popular with the French public bolstered by a number of roles specifically created for the great Parisian actress Sarah Bernhardt. Born in Manchester in 1959, Ranjit Bolt was educated at Perse School and at Balliol College, Oxford. He worked as an investment analyst and advisor for eight years, before concentrating on theatre translation from the end of 1990. Ranjit Bolt's acclaimed translations for the theatre, many of which are published by Oberon Books, include works by Moliere, Seneca, Sophocles, Corneille, Beaumarchais, Brecht, Goldoni and Zorilla.