{"title":"Bob Blaisdell","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the fascinating world of Russian literature through the insightful works of Bob Blaisdell. Known for his meticulous research and engaging writing style, Blaisdell delves into the lives of literary giants with a refreshing perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eChekhov Becomes Chekhov\u003c\/em\u003e, Blaisdell presents an in-depth examination of Anton Chekhov, capturing the nuances of his journey to becoming one of the most celebrated dramatists and short story writers. Readers will uncover the personal and professional evolution of Chekhov, gaining a deeper appreciation for his contributions to literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eCreating Anna Karenina\u003c\/em\u003e, Blaisdell turns his attention to Leo Tolstoy, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of one of literature's greatest novels. This work provides a compelling narrative of Tolstoy’s life and the intricate process behind crafting his masterpiece, allowing fans and scholars alike to gain newfound insights into his genius.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBob Blaisdell's books are a treasure trove for those interested in Biography \u0026amp; Memoir, providing a unique blend of storytelling and historical exploration. Perfect for readers eager to venture beyond the pages of classic literature to understand the lives and times of the authors who shaped them.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"chekhov-becomes-chekhov-by-bob-blaisdell-9781639362646","title":"Chekhov Becomes Chekhov","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA revelatory portrait of Chekhov during the most extraordinary artistic surge of his life.\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1886, a twenty-six-year-old Anton Chekhov was publishing short stories, humour pieces, and articles at an astonishing rate, and was still a practising physician. Yet as he honed his craft and continued to draw inspiration from the vivid characters in his own life, he found himself—to his surprise and occasional embarrassment—admired by a growing legion of fans, including Tolstoy himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe had not yet succumbed to the ravages of tuberculosis. He was a lively, frank, and funny correspondent and a dedicated mentor. And as Bob Blaisdell discovers, his vivid articles, stories, and plays from this period—when read in conjunction with his correspondence—become a psychological and emotional secret diary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Chekhov struggled with his increasingly fraught engagement, young couples are continually making their raucous way in and out of relationships on the page. When he was overtaxed by his medical duties, his doctor characters explode or implode. Chekhov’s talented but drunken older brothers and his domineering father became transmuted into characters, yet their emergence from their family's serfdom is roiling beneath the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChekhov could crystallise the human foibles of the people he knew into some of the most memorable figures in literature and drama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eChekhov Becomes Chekhov\u003c\/i\u003e, Blaisdell astutely examines the psychological portraits of Chekhov's distinct, carefully observed characters and how they reflect back on their creator during a period when there seemed to be nothing between his imagination and the paper he was writing upon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46626957590764,"sku":"9781639362646","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/18702373482771.jpg?v=1751876035"},{"product_id":"creating-anna-karenina-by-bob-blaisdell-9781643134628","title":"Creating Anna Karenina","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe story behind the origins of \u003ci\u003eAnna Karenina\u003c\/i\u003e and the turbulent life and times of Leo Tolstoy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAnna Karenina\u003c\/i\u003e is one of the most nuanced characters in world literature, and we return to her, and the novel she propels, again and again. Remarkably, there has not yet been an examination of Leo Tolstoy specifically through the lens of this novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCritic and professor Bob Blaisdell unravels Tolstoy’s family, literary, and day-to-day life during the period that he conceived, drafted, abandoned, and revised \u003ci\u003eAnna Karenina\u003c\/i\u003e. In the process, we see where Tolstoy’s life and his art intersect in both obvious and subtle ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders often assume that Tolstoy, a nobleman-turned-mystic, would write himself into the principled Levin. But in truth, it is within Anna that the consciousness and energy flow with the same depth and complexities as Tolstoy. Her fateful suicide is the road that Tolstoy nearly traveled himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt once a nuanced biography and portrait of the last decades of the Russian empire and artful literary examination, \u003ci\u003eCreating Anna Karenina\u003c\/i\u003e will enthrall the thousands of readers whose lives have become deeper and clearer after experiencing this hallmark of world literature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46804134854892,"sku":"9781643134628","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/250613482773.jpg?v=1757412554"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/bob-blaisdell.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}