For the first time, all of Anton Chekhov's drama in English in a single volume. This stunning new translation presents the only truly complete edition of the playwright who is in the pantheon of the greatest dramatists in history. Anton Chekhov is a unique force in modern drama, his works interpreted and adapted internationally and beloved for their understanding of the human condition and their brilliant wit. This volume contains work that has never previously been translated, including the newly discovered farce The ...
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For the first time, all of Anton Chekhov's drama in English in a single volume. This stunning new translation presents the only truly complete edition of the playwright who is in the pantheon of the greatest dramatists in history. Anton Chekhov is a unique force in modern drama, his works interpreted and adapted internationally and beloved for their understanding of the human condition and their brilliant wit. This volume contains work that has never previously been translated, including the newly discovered farce The Power of Hypnosis and the first version of Ivanov, as well as Chekhov's early humorous dialogues. No less important, Laurence Senelick, who has staged many of these plays, has freshly translated them to bring into English Chekhov's jokes, the deliberate repetitions of his dialogue, and his verbal characterizations. Senelick has also annotated the works to bring clarity for the general reader and has included variants of the plays. His translations infuse new life into such classics as The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters.
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In building a library of dramatic literature, translated plays can present difficulties. Which translation to select? I took a gamble on this volume of Chekhov plays, translated by Laurence Senelick, and it has paid off quite handsomely. Senelick has done a wonderful job of balancing between heightened period language and a contemporary accessibility. From an academic standpoint, this collected works also helpfully includes detailed introductions to each play, footnotes on historical context, a guide to translation and pronunciation, and even variations to each dramatic work. This volume includes the four major plays of Chekhov's canon ("Uncle Vanya," "The Cherry Orchard," "Three Sisters," "The Seagull"), as well as early experimental plays, farcical one-acts, one collaboration, and humorous dialogues that have been adapted for the stage.
