Prudence Steiner''s lively prose translation of Moliere''s great comedy remains close to the original French, while casting the speech of characters in a slightly compressed and formalized way that comes very close to the original effect created by Molière''s verse. This edition includes translations of Moliere''s three appeals to the king, as well as an introductory essay by Roger Herzel, which discusses Moliere''s life, Tartuffe and the comic tradition, and the setting, language and style of the play.