{"product_id":"uncle-vanya-9780413774712","title":"Uncle Vanya","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlong with \u003ci\u003eThree Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Cherry Orchard\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eUncle Vanya\u003c\/i\u003e is credited as one of Chekhov's masterpieces and a significant precursor of modern drama. Set on a country estate in late nineteenth century Russia, \u003ci\u003eUncle Vanya\u003c\/i\u003e is in part a study of the enervation of Russian middle-class provincial life. The major dynamics between the characters themselves are centred on two obsessive love affairs that lead nowhere and a flirtation that brings disaster. Mixing the tragic and the absurd and dealing with a form that allows for ambiguity and contradiction, Uncle Vanya has been deemed \"the first modernist play\". (David Lan) \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA masterpiece of Russian theatre, this student edition features the definitive translation by acclaimed playwright Michael Frayn. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMethuen Student Editions are expertly annotated texts of a wide range of plays. Contains the complete text of the play, the volume contains a chronology of the playwright's life and work; an introduction giving the background to the play; a discussion of various interpretations; and notes on individual words and phrases in the text\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnton Chekhov\u003c\/b\u003e (1860-1904), Russian physician, dramatist and author, is considered to be one of the greatest writers of short stories and modern drama. Born in Taganrog, a port town near the Black Sea, he attended medical school at Moscow University. He began writing to supplement his income, writing short humorous sketches of contemporary Russian life. A successful literary careered followed, before his premature death of TB at the age of 44. He is best-remembered for his four dramatic masterpieces: \u003ci\u003eThe Seagull\u003c\/i\u003e (1896), \u003ci\u003eUncle Vanya\u003c\/i\u003e (1899), \u003ci\u003eThree Sisters\u003c\/i\u003e (1901) and \u003ci\u003eThe Cherry Orchard\u003c\/i\u003e (1904). \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Frayn\u003c\/b\u003e read Russian, French and Moral Sciences (Philosophy) at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He began his career as a journalist on the \u003ci\u003eManchester Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e and the \u003ci\u003eObserver\u003c\/i\u003e. His award-winning plays include \u003ci\u003eAlphabetical Order\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eMake and Break\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNoises Off\u003c\/i\u003e, all of which received Best Comedy of the Year awards, while \u003ci\u003eBenefactors \u003c\/i\u003ewas named Best Play of the Year. Two of his more recent plays, \u003ci\u003eCopenhagen \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eDemocracy\u003c\/i\u003e, also won numerous awards (including, for Copenhagen, the Tony in New York and the Prix Moli?re in Paris). In 2006 \u003ci\u003eDonkeys' Years \u003c\/i\u003ewas revived in the West End thirty years after its premiere and was followed in 2007 by \u003ci\u003eThe Crimson Hotel\u003c\/i\u003e, at the Donmar, and by \u003ci\u003eAfterlife\u003c\/i\u003e, at the National Theatre, in 2008. Frayn has translated Chekhov's last four plays, dramatised a selection of his one-act plays and short stories under the title \u003ci\u003eThe Sneeze\u003c\/i\u003e, and adapted his first, untitled play, as \u003ci\u003eWild Honey\u003c\/i\u003e. Frayn's novels include \u003ci\u003eTowards the End of the Morning\u003c\/i\u003e (in the USA, \u003ci\u003eAgainst Entropy\u003c\/i\u003e), \u003ci\u003eThe Trick of It\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eA Landing on the Sun\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHeadlong \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSpies\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Methuen Drama","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50324070039826,"sku":"9780413774712","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_3bd8bc88-6961-4c6a-a079-82cf3fde5c7c.jpg?v=1737061907","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/uncle-vanya-9780413774712","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}