The Cherry Orchard

Hear what I have to say about the cherry orchard, because it is mine. I say bring it down, tear it down. Smash it down and tear it down. Watch, watch. Just you watch. I will build holiday villas, as far as the eye can see. I will build a place for everyone to come and enjoy. For the future. And this will be the future. A new life. A new way of life. Here! Come now and play. Play. Play! Get the band to play. Ranyevskaya returns more or less bankrupt after ten years abroad. Luxuriating in her fading moneyed world and regardless of the increasingly hostile forces outside, she and her brother snub the lucrative scheme of Lopakhin, a peasant turned entrepreneur, to save the family estate. In so doing, they put up their lives to auction and seal the fate of the beloved orchard. Set at the very start of the twentieth century, The Cherry Orchard captures a poignant moment in Russia's history as the country rolls inexorably towards 1917. The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov in a version by Andrew Upton, premiered at the National Theatre, London, in May 2011.

Stephen Karam is known for his dedication to exploring the idiosyncrasies of human speech and behavior -- the subtleties, the depth, and the awkward minutia. With this new adaptation of Chekhov’s canonical masterpiece about a family on the brink of bankruptcy, Karam's fluid style finds a harmonious fit with the work of the master playwright.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, in this unique adaptation of one of the great masterpieces of the theater, allows us to see Anton Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" in totally new and surprising ways. As Mamet explains in his introduction, he views the play "as a series of scenes about sexuality and, particularly, frustrated sexuality" rather than about a dying Russia. The result, said 'The Sentinel,' "blows a gust of fresh air into the old play" while the Chicago Sun-Times called it "audacious [and] consistently arresting." "Mamet the adaptor has turned Chekhov's Cherry Orchard into a Mamet play. Mamet's ear is famously impeccable, the dialogue is always authentic and convincing . . . . This is a tribute to its strong point of view and clear point of departure. If nothing else, it will help to undermine our silly critical notions of 'definitive' Chekhov. Mamet has made me rethink the play." - Robert Brustein, 'The New Republic'

At first glance, Nora Helmer appears to live the perfect life. She is married to the ambitious banker Torvald and is well provided for. But when she is blackmailed by one of her husband's colleagues, she is forced to re-examine her life along with her role as a frivolous, scatter-brained wife. First published in 1879, A Doll's House scandalized contemporary audiences and rewrote the rules of drama. It challenged notions of women's place in society and questioned every aspect of what constituted good conduct in domestic life. Ibsen's masterpiece was the first serious play to focus on ordinary people in everyday situations rather than on the lives of the upper classes. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

Chekhov assigned a personal way of speaking to each character, divorcing consequence from action, cause from effect. Despite the controversy generated by its paradoxical nature, however, The Cherry Orchard has become a milestone in twentieth-century drama.

'Warm, romantic and funny' Katie Fforde Jo Thomas's new novel invites you to a special cherry orchard in Spain, where sunshine, romance and family secrets are the order of the day. Perfect for fans of Jill Mansell and Carole Matthews, Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is a heartwarming, hilarious tale that is 'like the best kind of holiday' (Lucy Diamond). It's time for Beti Winter to dance to her own beat. After three failed engagements Beti is in desperate need of a fresh start. What better place than the sun-drenched hills of southern Spain? But it's not all sangria and siestas. Beti finds work on an old Andalusian cherry farm where there are cherries to be picked, trees to be watered and her fiery boss, Antonio, to win over. As the sun toasts her skin, Beti finds herself warming to the Spanish way of life. Embracing the art of flamenco, she discovers there is much to learn from the dance of passion. She just has to let loose and listen to the rhythm of her heart. Readers love Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard: 'I loved it!!! I can't recommend this book enough' 'Such an enjoyable journey that I just couldn't put it down' 'A real feel good book' 'Wow just wow, its a shame I have to come back to England, after being so thoroughly transported to southern Spain in this wonderful story' 'Amazing, incredible, heartwarming read that I loved from start to finish' 'If you want to be transported to another country and another way of life, with fantastic characters and an utterly addictive story, then you really must read this book!' 'I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book' 'The plot of Sunset Over the Cherry Orchard is perfect' 'There is laughter, tears, friendship, jealousy, and passion all vying for attention against the stunning backdrop of rural Spain' 'This is a delightfully sweet, escapist read that's perfect for holidays or anyone wishing to get away for a bit, as it whisks readers away to beautiful Spain' 'Sun, Food and Romance is there anything more you could ask for in a summer read? I don't think so!!!'

Cambridge Literature is a series of literary texts edited for study by students aged 14 18 in English-speaking classrooms. It will include novels, poetry, short stories, essays, travel-writing and other non-fiction. The series will be extensive and open-ended, and will provide school students with a range of edited texts taken from a wide geographical spread. It will include writing in English from various genres and differing times. The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is translated by Pam Gems and edited by Brian Woolland, Department of Film and Drama, Reading University."

It is the turn of the 20th century and Russia is changing rapidly - the serfs have been emancipated, a new middle class is arising and the aristocracy is struggling to come to terms with their reduced role in society. Seeking to preserve a life of leisure and luxury, Madame Ranevsky must consider selling her estate, including her family's precious cherry orchard. But when faced with these hard decisions, Ranevsky remains in denial. Charting a period of tumultuous change, Chekhov creates a cast of tangible and unforgettable characters whose destiny is both tragic and inevitable. A touching masterpiece, The Cherry Orchard was Chekhov's final play and perhaps his best.