Chekhov: The Major Plays (Paperback)

by Anton Chekhov (Author), Jean-Claude Van Itallie (Author) "I want to thank friends of these versions of Chekhov's plays, so many friends that I know I won't remember them all..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ivan Petrovich, Ivan Romanyich, Konstantine Gavrilovich (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Despite the abundant variety of Chekhov translations available in bookstores and libraries, American directors and actors have sought out these versions by Jean-Claude van Itallie to make them the most often performed renditions on the American stage today. This edition includes "The Seagull," "Uncle Vanya," "Three Sisters," and "The Cherry Orchard."

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (April 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557831629
• ISBN-13: 978-1557831620
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #305,865 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #17 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Chekhov, Anton
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  #87 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Foreign Language Fiction > Russian

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars human nature, January 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Chekhov: The Major Plays (Signet Classics) (Paperback)

The five masterpieces in this collection deal with the dizzying pace of an industrializing world. Although the plays were written a hundred years ago, they are still very relevant to our modern existence. Chekov's questions about the place of class in a world in which class boundaries rapidly shift, the value of money in a world in which life has no meaning, and the meaning of existence in which experience is absurd still open our eyes to the many layers of existence which we uncover (or choose not to) every day.

In today's world, which, like Chekov's, is changing every day, it would behoove all of us to sit down for a while every day and ponder the infinite wisdom of "The Cherry Orchard" (which is in this collection) and try to understand ourselves.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Chekov translation for actors., January 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Major Plays (Signet classics) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful translation and it happens to be the translation reccomended to me by Miss Joan Potter. (Voted one of the five utmost speakers on Chekov) She has traveled all over and has all the translations ever. It's an easy read compared to most translations and very actable.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid Translation of Chekhov, February 21, 2000

By A Customer

Van Itallie's translations of Chekhov have been around since the late 1970s, but are now in a fine paperback version by Applause Books. His translation of Chekhov is right up there with those of Paul Schmidt's. I have been using Van Itallie's translations with my senior English students and they have found a lightness and clarity in Chekhov's plays (especially The Seagull) that is sometimes missing in earlier translations (Fen's, Dunnigan's, and Garnett's). I highly recommend this translation.