The Plays of Anton Chekhov: Critically Hailed Translations That Rescue the Lost Humor for American Audiences
Product ID: 8002259
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These critically hailed translations of The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters and the other Chekhov plays are the only ones in English by a Russian-language scholar who is also a veteran Chekhovian actor. Without compromising the spirit of the text, Paul Schmidt accurately translates Chekhov's entire theatrical canon, rescuing the humor "lost" in most academic translations while respecting the historical context and original social climate. Schmidt's translations of Chekhov have been successfully staged all over the U.S. by such theatrical directors as Lee Strasberg, Elizabeth Swados, Peter Sellars and Robert Wilson. Critics have hailed these translations as making Chekhov fully accessible to American audiences. They are also accurate -- Schmidt has been described as "the gold standard in Russian-English translation" by Michael Holquist of the Russian department at Yale University. Review: Plays of Chekhov need I say more - Chekhov certainly doesn’t need my recommendation but this is an excellent collection. You get the big four plus “Ivanov”and seven shorter plays. The shorter pieces are often quite funny. This was the last stop on my journey through Chekhov this year. The translation by Paul Schmidt is crisp and clear. It reads very smoothly. Type is sharp and easy to read. Has as much quality as you would expect for an inexpensive paperback. If you have never tried the plays of Chekhov this is an excellent choice. Review: A Showcase of Excellence - Wonderful, wonderful work! Such a joy to read through Chekhov's classics, and also with such elegance of translation that Paul Schmidt has showcased. I would highly recommend this to anyone researching Chekhov, and definitely to any actor in college looking to learn more about the Greats! Quick shipping, and the book is in magnificent condition. Couldn't be more pleased with this product!
| Best Sellers Rank | #123,722 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #5 in Russian & Soviet Dramas & Plays #3,517 in Classic Literature & Fiction #7,455 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 197 Reviews |
M**D
Plays of Chekhov need I say more
Chekhov certainly doesn’t need my recommendation but this is an excellent collection. You get the big four plus “Ivanov”and seven shorter plays. The shorter pieces are often quite funny. This was the last stop on my journey through Chekhov this year. The translation by Paul Schmidt is crisp and clear. It reads very smoothly. Type is sharp and easy to read. Has as much quality as you would expect for an inexpensive paperback. If you have never tried the plays of Chekhov this is an excellent choice.
A**N
A Showcase of Excellence
Wonderful, wonderful work! Such a joy to read through Chekhov's classics, and also with such elegance of translation that Paul Schmidt has showcased. I would highly recommend this to anyone researching Chekhov, and definitely to any actor in college looking to learn more about the Greats! Quick shipping, and the book is in magnificent condition. Couldn't be more pleased with this product!
J**I
Beautiful translation of the world's greatest short fiction writer
A great read for those all Chekhov fans, new and old. Paul Schmidt's sensitive, artful translation is superior to all others. He brings to life Chekhov's intelligence and surprising wit, without losing the true meaning of the original text. If you've never before read Cheknov, start with this volume. You won't regret it.
M**N
Chekov
the book came, I like it, the plays are great, the translation is alright. a a a a a a
J**K
Excellent!
The book is much better condition than I expected!
A**S
Classroom Worthy
It's a great collection, and very well translated. I've seen these books in classrooms before, and that's how I chose the edition. I'm so glad I did. Reading it this summer has been great.
S**P
There is no single narrator as these are plays. ...
There is no single narrator as these are plays. This was my first venture into Chekhov. I am enjoying the plays very much.
J**Y
Five Stars
Nice easy reading translation; I'm not an academic, just a regular guy, and this reads nicely.
K**S
Good edition of Chekov's plays in one compact volume
Good to have all his plays in one volume and especially the lesser known, shorter ones.
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