Black Snow: A Theatrical Novel (Vintage Classics) Book

Although now best known for his excellent political satire, The Master and Margarita, during his own lifetime Mikhail Bulgakov enjoyed his greatest successes as a playwright for the Moscow theatre. Black Snow is Bulgakov's hilarious lampoon of the pre-war Russian theatre scene that both made his reputation and drove him to the brink of despair. Disappointed to find that his bid to take his own life has been unsuccessful, struggling writer Maxudov decides to dramatise the novel whose failure provoked the suicide attempt. To the great resentment of Moscow's literati, Maxudov's play is accepted by the prestigious Independent Theatre and Maxudov himself is thrust into an arty vortex of inflated egos. With each new rehearsal, more sparks fly amongst the cast and crew and the chances of the play ever being ready to perform recede. Black Snow is the ultimate backstage theatre novel and is a brilliant satire on Bulgakov's legendary love-hate relationship with theatre pioneer Stanislavsky, method-acting and the Moscow Arts Theatre where his own plays were performed.

Y12312008 This title comes with an introduction by Terry Gilliam. When Maxudov's bid to take his own life fails, he dramatises the novel whose failure provoked the suicide attempt. To the resentment of literary Moscow, his play is accepted by the...

A satire by the author of ''The Master and Margarita'' on his ten-year love-hate relationship with Stanislavsky, Method-acting and the Moscow Arts Theatre.