#4285928 in eBooks 1986-08-13 1986-08-13File Name: B000U5M3W8
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Prospects and aspirationshellip;By John P. Jones IIIItrsquo;s in the media; mainstream and otherwise: Russia. More than a hint that they might have lost the war (Cold) but won the battle (the latest); and picked the President of the United States. Hum. My recent reading has had a noticeable Russian bent; but Irsquo;d like to think my interest in that grand country; and its writers; has deeper roots that the current topical interest. Irsquo;ve been reading about the relatively current travels of two Frenchmen (Tesson and Gras) in Russia; a novella of Tolstoy; and much of Anton Chekhov. I was deeply impressed with his Sakhalin Island (Alma Classics)). Irsquo;ve also read all his other major plays; The Cherry Orchard; Uncle Vanya: Scenes from Country Life in Four Acts); and The Seagull. ldquo;Three Sistersrdquo; now completes my reading of his major dramatic works.Chekhov would die of tuberculosis in 1904; at the age of 44. ldquo;Three Sistersrdquo; was his final major work; first being performed in Moscow; three years before his death; in 1901. Chekhov was a physician; trained to carefully observe the human body. Another physician-writer that I admire; Abraham Verghese; states that he has difficulty turning off that observation-training in social settings. Chekhov seems to have been the same way. He often places a doctor in his plays; in this one it is Chebutykin; age almost 60; a standard country doctor for the era.As the title indicates; the core characters in the play are three sisters; Olga; 28; Masha; 23 (she was married at 18 to the school teacher; Kulygin) and Irina; 20. They all live in the house of their brother; Prozorov; who is a bit of a wastrel; and will marry Natasha. The setting is an estate in the Russian countryside. An artillery unit is stationed nearby. During peacetime; as this is; the military really does not have much to do; save for the all-too-often busywork of ldquo;training;rdquo; and much more pleasantly; courting the young women in the environs. Tuzenbakh is a Baron; and a lieutenant; and is attracted to the youngest; Irina. Meanwhile; Vershinin; 42; a colonel who knew Prozorovrsquo;s father; senses the dissatisfaction Masha has with her husband; who was once ldquo;learnedrdquo; when she was 18; but at 23; he is merely pedantic. And makes his move.Chekhov observes the prospects and aspirations of these three women; faithfully depicting the life of many European women of the late 19th century. His work called to mind Ibsenrsquo;s A Dolls House (Dover Thrift Editions) as well as his fellow Russian; Tolstoyrsquo;s The Kreutzer Sonata (Modern Library Classics). One of their chief aspirations is to leave the boredom of rural life; and its very limited society; and relocate to the glitz and glitter of Moscow. Each must make that frank evaluation of their ldquo;prospectsrdquo; in a society where onersquo;s relationship with a man largely determines onersquo;s fate in life.It is a good representative mix of characters; and Chekhov handles the material well. Chekhov predicted that his plays would be relevant for seven years. More than a century later they are still worthwhile; though not exceptional. Overall; for this play; as well as two of his others; 4-stars.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ldquo;The Three Sistersrdquo; was one of his major works along with others like ldquo;The Seagullrdquo; and ldquo;The Cherry Orchardrdquo;By Aaronldquo;The Three Sistersrdquo; is a play by Anton Chekhov originally written in 1900 and first performed in 1901. ldquo;The Three Sistersrdquo; was one of his major works along with others like ldquo;The Seagullrdquo; and ldquo;The Cherry Orchardrdquo;. The story follows the three sisters; Olga; Masha; Irina; and their brother Andrei on their estate in the Russian countryside.The story begins on the anniversary of their fatherrsquo;s death and also on Irinarsquo;s name day. The sisters are gathered on their estate and are celebrating along with friends and soldiers that used to know their father. There are many reoccurring themes that appear throughout the story; and the 2 most notable are dreams and love. The sisters dream of moving back to Moscow; while Olga; the oldest; wishes to be married and said that would have married ldquo;any man; even an old man if he had askedrdquo;. Irina wished to return to Moscow where she believed she would find true love. Masha however; has already been married since she was 18; but she falls for another man. Throughout the story they are constantly talking about the things they wish to do; but rarely acting upon them. The best example of this is how the sisters talk of going to Moscow but they end up staying on estate in the countryside for many years even though they appear capable of moving to Moscow any time they wish.Even though it first premiered in 1901 ldquo;The Three Sistersrdquo; has remained popular throughout the years with showings as recent as April 2017; at The Studio Theatre in Washington; DC.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good night time read!!!By JANE CRAIGJONESRequired reading for work; not the easiest play to read without falling asleep