My Life in Art [Hardcover]

Konstantin Stanislavsky (Author), Jean Benedetti (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This wise and delightful book … is packed with sage, practical counsel to actors and actresses.' – The Times Literary Supplement

'The Stanislavski system of acting is good. What is better is the Stanislavski philosophy of art that believes in the infinitude of man ... Even those who are not primarily interested in acting will find in Stanislavski's writing an extraordinary illumination of art.' – The New York Times

"This vibrant translation assures that Staniskavski's memoir will be appreciated by a wide audience of Anglophone readers... Highly Recommended." – CHOICE

Product Description

Konstantin Stanislavski was a Russian director who transformed theatre in the West with his contributions to the birth of Realist theatre and his unprecedented approach to teaching acting. He lived through extraordinary times and his unique contribution to the arts still endures in the twenty-first century. He established the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 with, among other plays, the premiere of Chekhov's The Seagull. He also survived revolutions, lost his fortune, found wide fame in America, and lived in internal exile under Stalin's Soviet Union.

Before writing his classic manual on acting, Stanislavski began writing an autobiography that he hoped would both chronicle his rich and tumultuous life and serve as a justification of his aesthetic philosophy. But when the project grew to 'impossible' lengths, his publisher (Little, Brown) insisted on many cuts and changes to keep it to its deadline and to a manageable length. The result was a version published in English in 1924, which Stanislavski hated and completely revised for a Soviet edition that came out in 1926.

Now, for the first time, translator Jean Benedetti brings us Stanislavski's complete unabridged autobiography as the author himself wanted it – from the re-edited 1926 version. The text, in clear and lively English, is supplemented by a wealth of photos and illustrations, many previously unpublished.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 488 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (January 31, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415436575
• ISBN-13: 978-0415436571
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #287,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Theatre

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New translation a gift, August 3, 2008

By	T. J. Melody "TJM" (the Universe, here and now) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Life in Art (Hardcover)

Stanislavski's "My Life in Art" was written in haste during the Moscow Art Theatre's 1922-24 European and American tours and translated into a language he neither spoke nor understood by a mysterious individual (J.J. Robbins) with less than satisfactory credentials for the job. For nearly a century this has been the version available in English and for the most part anywhere in the world outside of Russia. But upon returning to Moscow Stanislavski continued to write and revise the book which was later published in Russia and considered by Stanislavski to be both definitive and the version he was satisfied with.

Thus, Jean Bendetti's new translation of the Russian version is a welcome and valuable gift, not only to actors and the theatre but to art and artistic endeavor in general. Much is the same as the original Engligh version in terms of content, but much is also new and different, never before available in English. Of particular interest are the appendices recounting Stanislavski's more personal memories of Chekhov and the later European and American tours.

An important aspect lost in the previous translation was Stanislavski's personal, conversational tone, which is how the book itself was written; i.e. Stanislavski spoke and what he said was scribed. Thus, a whole new feeling comes of this translation that is extremely valuable, if not priceless. It is nearly impossible not to feel that you know Stanislavski very personally after reading the book. Particularly in the last section (the appendix of the European-American tour) you feel as if he has spoken to you personally about the entire experience. As such the voice and personality of this great master speaks and can be discovered once more in a way that has previously not been possible. This alone is more than worth the price of the book.

Indeed this will be a valuable and cherished volume for years to come, if not an entirely new rejuvenation of what was in its time a classic, historically influential and historically significant work.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For any college-level collection serious about acquiring drama classics., May 4, 2008

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Life in Art (Hardcover)

Before writing his opus manual on acting technique, Stanislavski wrote an autobiography he hoped would detail his life and philosophy - but his publisher insisted on many cuts and changes to its length, resulting in a diminutive version Stanislavski hated - and completely revised for a 1926 Soviet edition. For the first time translator Jean Benedetti brings English readers this complete Soviet edition, pairing it with new photos and illustrations and creating a keepsake edition for any college-level collection serious about acquiring drama classics.