Richard Gilman – författare

The Cherry Orchard, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and other plays of Anton Chekhov have been acclaimed by audiences and readers since they first began appearing in the late nineteenth century. In this eloquent and insightful book, an eminent critic explores the reasons behind the enduring power of Chekhov's works.Richard Gilman examines each of Chekhov's full-length plays, showing how they relate to each other, to Chekhov's short stories, and to his life. He also places the plays in the context of Russian and European drama and the larger culture of the period. Gilman interweaves biographical narrative with textual commentary and with a discussion of stagecraft and dramaturgy—Chekhov's techniques for influencing viewers, the scenic framing of the action, and issues of genre and temporal structuring. Although previous critics of Chekhov have tended to view him as an essentially social dramatist or as an observer of the smaller aspects of existence, Gilman asserts that Chekhov was far more of an innovative playwright, a revolutionary, than has been seen. His book—the most complete, acute, and elegant study of this master playwright ever written—will appeal to all those who care about Chekhov, theater, and the life of the mind.

This highly acclaimed critical exploration of modern drama begins with Büchner and Ibsen and then discusses the major playwrights who have shaped modern theater—Strindberg, Chekhov, Pirandello, Brecht, Beckett, and Handke. A new introduction by the author assesses developments of recent years. Reviews of the earlier editions: “The best single study of the astonishing transformations dramatic art has undergone in the last century or so.”—Thomas R. Edwards, New York Times Book Review “In its field this is one of the choice books of the century. It moves toward the deepest sources of some great plays, so it deepens their effect on us.”—Stanley Kauffmann “The Making of Modern Drama has no rivals. Richard Gilman’s account of his fascinating subject is written with love, measure, and authority.”—Susan Sontag “Gilman’s book on the genesis and development of contemporary drama is acute, beautifully accomplished, and, I think, important.”—Donald Barthelme

First published in 2014. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.