Publisher's Synopsis
At the turn of the century, there appeared in the Western world a stream of literary and dramatic works that confused their audiences to an unprecedented degree. Using five early 20th-century Russian plays, Kot examines the techniques, devices and elements the playwrights applied to undercut the traditional dramatic and theatrical expectations of their audiences. Kot argues that these playwrights are actively searching for answers to the existential and philosophical questions that they pose, and ask their audience to do the same. Obilgingly, Kot does just this, and includes an analysis of ""Cherry Orchard"" the last and greatest play by the famed Anton Chekhov.
