The Seagull

Chekhov is a unique force in modern drama. His works have long been cherished for their brilliant wit and unusual ability to provide striking insights into the human condition. In these stunning, individually published translations of three of Chekhov's most popular and beloved plays, Laurence Senelick presents a fresh perspective on the master playwright and his groundbreaking dramas. This volume illuminates the timeless trials of art and love and bring Chekhov's memorable characters to life. Each of these three plays showcases the hallmark features of a Chekhov classic: clashing desires, complex family dynamics, the individual's loss of balance and sense of identity in the shifting eruptions of society and a modernizing Russia, and the angst of artistic struggle and ambition. Supplementing each of the plays are an account of Chekhov's life, a note on the translation, introductions to each work, and variant lines - often removed due to government censorship - which illuminate the context in which they were written and shed light on Chekhov's work as a playwright. These editions are the perfect guides to enriching our understanding of this great dramatist or to staging a production.