Chekhov's Plays: An Opening Into Eternity

Chekhov's Plays: An Opening Into Eternity by Gilman, Richard. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780300072563.

The Cherry Orchard The Seagull Uncle Vanya Three Sisters and other plays of Anton Chekhov have been acclaimed by audiences and readers since they first began appearing in the late nineteenth century. In this eloquent and insightful book an eminent critic explores the reasons behind the enduring power of Chekhovs works. Richard Gilman examines each of Chekhovs full-length plays showing how they relate to each other to Chekhovs short stories and to his life. He also places the plays in the context of Russian and European drama and the larger culture of the period. Gilman interweaves biographical narrative with textual commentary and with a discussion of stagecraft and dramaturgy-Chekhovs techniques for influencing viewers the scenic framing of the action and issues of genre and temporal structuring. Although previous critics of Chekhov have tended to view him as an essentially social dramatist or as an observer of the smaller aspects of existence Gilman asserts that Chekhov was far more of an innovative playwright a revolutionary than has been seen. His book-the most complete acute and elegant study of this master playwright ever written-will appeal to all those who care about Chekhov theater and the life of the mind.