Marriage (Женитьба): A Modern English Translation

What happens when a man wants to get married but cannot quite bring himself to do it?Ivan Podkolyosin is a comfortable, indecisive bachelor who has begun to consider marriage. With the help of his energetic friend Kochkaryov and a determined matchmaker, he is drawn into the search for a suitable wife. But choosing a bride proves far more complicated than he imagined.Meanwhile, Agafya Tikhonovna, a merchant's daughter, finds herself surrounded by a collection of eager and peculiar suitors. As introductions, rivalries, misunderstandings, and hurried plans unfold, everyone seems to have a different idea of what makes a good marriage. Kochkaryov's increasingly forceful attempts to arrange matters only add to the confusion.Marriage (Женитьба) is Nikolai Gogol's brilliant comedy of indecision, matchmaking, social ambition, and the absurdities of human behaviour. Through a cast of unforgettable characters, Gogol turns an ordinary marriage arrangement into a lively satire of vanity, expectations, and the difficulty of making up one's mind.This edition has been translated directly from the original Russian into clear, easy-to-read modern English. The translation stays close to the meaning, humour, characters, and dramatic action of Gogol's original while making the play more accessible to readers today.Ideal for: - Students studying Russian literature, drama, or comedy - Teachers looking for an accessible classroom edition - Readers discovering Nikolai Gogol for the first time - Readers who find older translations difficult or overly formal - Actors and theatre students wanting a clear understanding of each scene - Lovers of satire, social comedy, classic literature, and nineteenth-century Russian writing - Anyone wishing to experience this famous play in straightforward modern EnglishWhether you are studying Marriage or reading it simply for pleasure, this modern English translation offers a clear and accessible way to enjoy Gogol's witty, fast-moving comedy while remaining close to the meaning and spirit of the original.