Racine
Racine names 2 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Racine JEAN, an eminent French dramatic poet
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
JEAN, an eminent French dramatic poet; born in La Ferté Milon, France, Dec. 22, 1639, and was educated at Port Royal. In 1664 he produced his tragedy of "La Thébaïde," which was followed in 1665 by "Alexandre." In "Andromaque,” which 1667 appeared his " placed him far above all his contemporaries except Corneille; and his fame was still further increased by the production of "Britannicus," "Bérénice," and other tragedies. In 1677 appeared his tragedy of "Phèdre." He wrote, by desire of Louis XIV. and Madame de Maintenon, the sacred dramas of "Esther" and "Athalie." Besides his dramatic works, he wrote "Canticles and Hymns for the use of St. Cyr," the "History of Port Royal," etc. In 1673 he was received into the academy, and continued to enjoy the highest favor at court; but having offended the king by a too free use of his pen in drawing up a memorial on the distresses of the people, he lost favor. He died April 21, 1699.
Racine a city and county-seat of Racine co.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
a city and county-seat of Racine co., Wis.; on Lake Michigan at the mouth of Root river, and on the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, and the Chicago and Northwestern railroads; 23 miles S. of Milwaukee. Here are Luther College, Racine College, Racine Academy, the Racine Home School, St. Catherine's Academy (R. C.), high school, Taylor Orphan Asylum, St. Luke's Hospital, waterworks, electric light and street railroad plants, many churches, a number of National and State banks, and several daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals. The harbor is one of the best on the lake, and is accessible by vessels drawing 14 feet of water. Racine has manufactories of agricultural implements, carriages, leather, iron castings, lumber, etc. Pop. (1910) 38,002; (1920) 58,593. JEAN RACINE
What Has Changed in the Last Century
On Jean Racine the 1921 Collier's account still stands: the dates, the plays from "La Thébaïde" (1664) to "Athalie," and the late loss of royal favour are as taught now, though modern scholars stress his Jansenist Port-Royal formation more heavily, and English readers now meet him through verse translations such as Ted Hughes's "Phèdre" of 1998. The Wisconsin city has changed far more. Of the schools Collier's listed, Racine College closed in 1933 and its Kenosha-County-adjacent campus passed to other hands, while the harbour Collier's praised as "one of the best on the lake," then handling vessels drawing 14 feet, is now largely a recreational marina. The agricultural-implement works became part of the Case tractor business, later absorbed into CNH; the city's best-known landmark is now the S. C. Johnson Administration Building, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and opened in 1939. Population, 58,593 in 1920, rose past 90,000 by 1970 and has since settled back to roughly 77,000.
Written for this edition, 2026.