The Storm

Ostrovsky, Aleksandr Nikolaevich, 1823-1886Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.1

Word count: 122K words
Chapters: 13

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Storm by Aleksandr Nikolaevich OstrovskyAuthor: Ostrovsky, Aleksandr Nikolaevich, 1823-1886,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Apr 1, 2005

Editor's review

This is the English version of The Storm, a play by the Russian playwright Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky, provided by Project Gutenberg. Ostrovsky is known for depicting the merchant class and patriarchal family life; this play revolves around the conflict between family oppression, individual will, and social norms, and is an important text for understanding nineteenth-century Russian drama. The English edition is suitable for reading as a dramatic text; readers can focus on staging, dialogue, and the way conflict develops, and appreciate the tension specific to stage plays. As a public-domain e-book, the text is primarily the work itself and may not include detailed notes or production background, so it can be read alongside materials on Russian theater history. It suits theater enthusiasts, readers of Russian literature, and those using it as supplementary reading in English literature courses, but not readers who want a Chinese translation or full scholarly annotation. If used for staging, verify the edition and stage directions separately.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century Russian drama and literature
Readers with good English reading ability who want a public-domain play text
Drama students or amateur theater members doing text analysis
Readers who enjoy themes of family and social conflict and are willing to read dialogue-based works

Not a good fit for

Readers who want a Chinese translation and are not used to English plays
Researchers who need detailed scholarly notes and production history materials
Readers who prefer novelistic narrative and are not used to script dialogue

Reading tips

First make a character relationship chart, then read act by act, noting how the conflict escalates.
Read key dialogue aloud to appreciate stage rhythm and shifts in character tone.
Read alongside background materials on nineteenth-century Russian patriarchal families and the merchant class to understand the conflict.
After finishing, review the stage directions and consider how stage space serves the thematic expression.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this edition in English or Russian?

The material shows that the book is in English and is the English version released by Project Gutenberg. It is neither the Russian original nor a Chinese translation. To compare with the original or a Chinese translation, look for other editions.

Can I read it without experience reading drama?

Yes, but you need to get used to the script format, which consists mainly of dialogue and stage directions. It is best to first understand the character relationships and act structure, then read act by act; if you have read a few plays or seen stage productions, it will be easier to enter the text.

Does this electronic edition include notes and an introduction?

From the material, this is a public-domain play text provided by Project Gutenberg, mainly presenting the work itself; it does not state that it includes modern notes, an introduction, or production materials. When background knowledge is needed, read it together with materials on Russian theater history or literary history.

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About the author

Ostrovsky, Aleksandr Nikolaevich, 1823-1886 Author · Russian · 1823–1886

Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky (1823–1886) was a Russian playwright regarded as the founder of Russian national drama. His works are rooted in Russian social life, bringing to the stage the everyday world of merchants, townspeople, and other social strata, with vivid language, clearly drawn characters, and dialogue rich in folk flavor. His representative work The Storm, set against a harsh family and social environment, portrays characters' spiritual predicaments and resistance under oppression and stands as an important work in the history of Russian drama. Two of his works are held in this collection: Plays and The Storm. Public information about the details of his life is limited, so this introduction focuses only on the themes, style, and influence of his plays; his dramatic tradition has had a profound significance for the later development of Russian theater.