Exploring Molière: Cultural Enrichment through Digital Resources

By Catherine Rush Thompson

For those interested in exploring Molière and his work, the KC Molière 400 in 2022 site is the perfect introduction: https://www.kcmoliere400in2022.com/playlist.html. Here Dr. Felicia Londré outlines a complete list of Molière’s plays in chronological order, beginning with his first play, La Jalousie du Barbouillé (The Jealous Husband), and ending with his last play, Le Malade Imaginaire (The Hypochondriac). Dr. Londré also categorizes plays suitable for young audiences, comedies with music and dance, one-act farces, short comedies and full-length comedies, followed by plays about Molière or inspired by his work. This is a wonderful place to begin appreciating Moliere’s extensive work and comedic themes.
​
For as little as $0.99 you can order used books featuring Molière’s work at: https://www.alibris.com/. Better yet, local libraries offer free eBooks and access to other online resources to explore Molière from the comfort of your own home.

The Kansas City Public Library offers a range of resources featuring Molière and his work, listing twenty-nine books, three eBooks, a movie, and a downloadable audiobook, including:

1. The School for Husbands by Molière - eBook 2020
2. The Imaginary Invalid by Molière - eBook 2020
3. Molière, the French Revolution, and the Theatrical Afterlife by Mechele Leon - eBook 2009

Free digital resources are available to library members at all times and can be accessed using a web browser, downloaded to a mobile device, or streamed online. See details at: https://www.kclibrary.org/digital

The Johnson County Library similarly has a collection of Molière’s work comprised of six books, one eBook one movie, and one downloadable audiobook, including:

1. The Misanthrope: Full Text and Introduction by Molière - eBook 2014
2. The Misanthrope by Molière – downloadable audiobook

EAudiobooks and downloadable audiobooks require the Axis 360 eAudiobooks app, easily downloaded by library members.  Additional cultural resources can be explored using Access IndieFlix via RBdigital to stream art-house shorts, feature films, documentaries, classic TV shows, and web series from around the world. Information about accessing this service can be found at: https://www.jocolibrary.org/elibrary/streaming-video/indieflix?source=fic
​
Mid-Continent Public Library’s Molière collection includes eleven books, three eBooks, one audiobook (CD), seventeen streaming videos, two streaming music CDs, and two DVDs. Listed below are videos available in English and French that can be streamed remotely using a library membership:  

1. Dom Juan - 2012
2. Working on Molière's Bourgeois Gentilhomme - 2006 | French
3. The Children of Molière and Lully - 2005 | French
4. Spotlight on Charles Cré-Ange - 1998 | French
5. Terence and Molière – 1987
6. Molière and the Comédie-Française – 1982
7. Les Enfants de Molière et de Lully, Interviews - interview of Vincent Dumestre, artistic director - 2006 | French
8. Le Mariage Forcé - 2006 | French
9. L'Impromptu de Versailles - 2005 | French
10. Les Femmes Savantes - 2005 | French.
11. Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme - 2005 | French
12. Le Malade Imaginaire - 2005 | French
13. L'Ecole des Femmes – 2005 | French
14. Tartuffe - 2005 | French

EBooks featuring plays by Molière include:

1. The School for Husbands
2. The Imaginary Invalid

The library website (https://www.mymcpl.org/) provides clear instructions for accessing eBooks and eAudiobooks (https://www.mymcpl.org/books-movies-music/go-digital), including tutorials and a list of eBook resources.  In addition, the Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) provides a free-of-charge interlibrary loan (ILL) service that allows customers to obtain materials from other libraries throughout the United States not owned by MCPL. This service is provided through the WorldCat online database at: https://www.mymcpl.org/services/interlibrary-loan.

Enjoy exploring Molière!