My Life in Art

This wise and delightful book is packed with sage, practical counsel to actors and actresses.' - Times Literary Supplement The Stanislavski system of acting is good. What is better is the Stanislavski philosophy of art that believes in the infinitude of man. Even those who are not primarily interested in acting will find in Stanislavski's writing an extraordinary illumination of art.' - Brooks Atkinson, The New York Times Konstantin Stanislavski was a Russian director who transformed theatre in the West with his contributions to the birth of Realist theatre and his unprecedented approach to teaching acting. He lived through extraordinary times and his unique contribution to the arts still endures in the 21 st century. He established the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 with, amongst other plays, the premiere of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. Stanislavski survived revolutions, lost his fortune, found wide fame in America, and lived in internal exile under Stalin's Soviet Union. His autobiography is an inspirational testimony to an artists' imagination and endurance, and still has compelling resonance for today's practitioners. Translator Jean Benedetti brings us, for the first time, Stanislavski's autobiography as the author himself wanted it - from the re-edited 1926 version. The text, in clear and lively English, is supplemented by a wealth of photos and illustrations, many previously unpublished.Stanislavski, Konstantin is the author of 'My Life in Art', published 2008 under ISBN 9780415436571 and ISBN 0415436575.