Konstantin Stanislavsky transformed theatre in the West and was indisputably one of the twentieth centuryrsquo;s greatest innovators. His life and work mark some of the most significant artistic and political milestones of that tumultuous century; from the emancipation of the serfs to the Russian Revolution. Little wonder; then; that his correspondence contains gripping exchanges with the famous and infamous of his day: men such as Tolstoy; Chekhov; Trotsky and Stalin; among others.Laurence Senelick; one of the worldrsquo;s foremost scholars of Russian literature; mines the Moscow archives and the definitive Russian edition of Stanislavskyrsquo;s letters; to produce the fullest collection of the letters in any language other than Russian. He sheds new light on this fascinating field. Senelick takes us from the earliest extant letter of an eleven-year-old Konstantin in 1874; through his work as actor; director and actor trainer with the Moscow Art Theatre; to messages written just before his death in 1938 at the age of seventy-five. We discover Stanislavsky as son; brother and father; as lover and husband; as businessman and "internal emigre." He is seen as a wealthy tourist and an impoverished touring actor; a privileged subject of the Tsar and a harried victim of the Bolsheviks.Senelick shares key insights into Stanislavskys work on such important productions as The Seagull; The Cherry Orchard; Hamlet; Othello; and The Marriage of Figaro. The letters also reveal the steps that led up to the publication of his writings My Life in Art and An Actorrsquo;s Work on Himself. This handsome edition is also comprehensively annotated and fully illustrated.
#1083513 in eBooks 2013-10-24 2013-10-24File Name: B00FPMBA5W
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. which is the one that is invariably used on stage and in film -- and with good reason: it is funnierBy CustomerWilde first published the "Importance of Being Ernest" in a 4 act version. He later revised it into the standard 3 act version; which is the one that is invariably used on stage and in film -- and with good reason: it is funnier; better written; and more quickly paced. Unfortunately this kindle version is the inferior 4 act version. So . . . go for the real thing and buy another version.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. So far I have enjoyed "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Ernest"By LouI saw the 1947 movie "An Ideal Husband" and just had to read the play. This book includes a lot (all?) of Oscar Wildes plays. So far I have enjoyed "An Ideal Husband" and "The Importance of Being Ernest". Both are light and witty; fun to read.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. UnexpectedBy BethansenThis wasnt wat I expected; but its just as wonderful. The book is from the 1930s and I feel a reverence to not use it. I probably would have sill bought knowing the year; but I definitely will not bring it places I would have brought a newer book.