"Chekhov, speaking simply and never otherwise than as an artist and a
humane man, shows us in fullness and plenitude the mystery of our
lives."--Eudora Welty
"What writers influenced me as a young man? Chekhov! As a dramatist?
Chekhov! As a story writer? Chekhov!"-Tennessee Williams
The Seagull is Anton Chekhov's brilliant four-act play that is
considered a monumental work of drama, and one of the most sublime
literary examinations of the complexities of love and friendship.
First performed over a century ago, this play remains one of the most
widely staged productions throughout the world.
The four protagonists in The Seagull are all artists; Trigorin is a
well-established writer, Arkadina is a renowned yet aging actress, her
son Treplev is a struggling writer, and Nina is a young aspiring actress
who is in love with Treplev. Success in love and in their art is a
shared intent, yet within the play each character experiences an
existential crisis in the darkness of unrequited love. With its
play-within-a-play, its nods to Shakespeare, and intimate and profound
character portrayals, this is an essential read for all serious students
of drama and Russian literature.
With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript,
this edition of The Seagull is both modern and readable.