Uncle Vanya (TCG Edition)

It is interesting to read how some in the world - in Russia - were already becoming concerned about the environment and conservation even that long ago.

Checking portrays human relationships with refreshing honesty. Life is imperfect and frustrating. We do our best and try to appreciate the larger meaning

Oddly enough, I came to read this vis-a-vis Murakami's "1Q84", a very complex, contemporary book set in 1984. Murakami included choice quotes from Chekhov throughout his story and I couldn't help but wonder about the source material. Also, after reading the 1,000 or so pages of "1Q84", I wanted something short. Very short. This fit the bill.Overall, a quick read about a time and place I'm largely unfamiliar (Tsarist Russia, on a rural estate), occupied by individuals who all are unhappy for one reason or another. They never become happy. They simply remain miserable in their own idleness. Everyone loves someone they can't have, and life offers them far from enough.All in all, and it's uncomfortable to say it, nothing happens. Sounds like a winner, right?It is. The fast paced dialogue and emotional weight moves the story at a brisk pace. To be sure, Chekhov has a way with words (of course, assuming the Russian translation has been done well. I have no reason to think otherwise). There's a tangible feel to the place; the setting is immersive. And did I say it was short? It's wonderfully short.It's also free. Translated by the community, the Kindle edition is absent any noticeable errors. It is highly well-done for a public domain book. Congrats, community.

A handful of desperately unhappy characters reconciling themselves to unmitigated sadness, but with a certain admirable grace. Not free to enjoy the rustic joys of the peasants, and living in such a confined world that happiness for one must mean disappointment for many others, they seek redemption in service and companionable isolation, both somewhat noble and almost overwhelmingly tragic. A troubling triumph.Also noteworthy is Check pc's concern for deforestation, an early conservationist.

I found Uncle Vanya to a well written play, but I wasn’t moved. I learned little of the world outside our characters dull lives. I was surprised by how quickly the main conflict came about and was resolved. I have no interest in seeing the play performed.

But Tsarist Russia, of course! It was really a crushing loss to literature to lose him so young. Although 44 wasn't necessarily 'young' back then, not like to day. but you get my point I think.And Vanya is such an exquisitely common, yet unavoidable masterpiece of stage drama -- seemingly wrenched from the jaws and bowels of every day existence, the way things can be turned on their head and life being not as we know it-- indeed, not ever the same as it once was and seemed destined to be for 'All time.' ... well, this is life itself, and what can you do?Really, death is the answer at the end of all our tales,. isn't it?

I had read this book forty some years ago. I realize I was probably too young to really understand Uncle Vanya himself. It reminded me why I loved Chekov. He perfectly depicted the way his people lived in that time, you can almost feel the sadness and the hopelessness. It is very enlightening to realize that he was so concerned about the future of his country, his people and the land and how he could look into the future and see how it could be damaged by what was being done or not done to the land, the forests, the people. No wonder this play is so popular with theatre lovers.

This is classic literature, so you can't read it expecting to be wildly entertained. From a cultural-historical point of view, it is quite interesting though. It is a play in which some "dialogues" momentarily look like monologues because they are so long. The life philosophies though are worth examining. Characters are distinct and offer different points of view. This play definitely gets into several universal themes: unrequited love, marrying for convenience, wasted lives, intellectual stimulation as a source of meaning, aging, etc. It provided a lot of material for classroom discussion.

Plenty of vodka goes down in this play as bitter feelings are expressed and lost chances regretted. Professor Serebryakov has returned to his first wife's house with his new wife Yelena. His daughter Sonya already lives there with her Uncle Vanya and between them they manage the place. Uncle Vanya is the brother of Professor Serebryakov's first wife.Professor Serebryakov is an inwardly focused, selfish character and demands constant attention from his family. Uncle Vanya resents his presence and feels unappreciated. In my eyes Vanya loses his argument when he admits he has taken a shine to the Professor's beautiful new wife. Doctor Astrov is a frequent visitor to the house and is also in love with Yelena. Everything comes to a dramatic climax and we see shouting, gunshots and general conflict.It was quite depressing when they were all philosophising in the garden as they are all pretty unhappy with their lot. Vanya is a gloomy melancholy character who is not particularly likeable. Sonya kept the family together and cared for everyone and I sympathised with her.In the play the men describe Yelena as beautiful and fall over themselves to impress her. Poor Sonya overhears some women from church saying she is ugly and how they pity her. Sonya worked hard and cared for everyone but it was Yelena's beauty that won the hearts of the male characters. She didn't do much to contribute to the household. It was sad.The author Anton Chekhov was a writer from Russia. He lived from 1860-1904. Uncle Vanya was published in 1898. I would recommend watching the play after you have read it. That helped me remember the characters better and their motivations.

I gave three stars for this play. It is only that I should read the form and study every angle of a work that was penned for the good of performance, but I did not rate it much for a modern audience.

I read this alongside Ronald Hingley's translation of Uncle Vanya. Surprisingly, Hingley's version did not flow as well. I have no idea if Hingley's it was truer to Chekhov's original wording, but this freebie kindle version was certainly the more pleasing read.For anyone looking to start reading Chekhov, I would recommend reading this. It is one of his better known plays, and the translation reads well.

Plays by their nature are hard to review as you really need to see them performed. Saying that the copy is clear and easy to read. Don't be daunted because its Chekhov. As a play or a general read it trundles along and is easy to follow.

I really loved this version of the play - of all the translations I've read this one was definitely my favourite. The play became more real and it made me really connect with all the characters.