A Word From The Silent Partner: A Book About Nemirovich-Danchenko

Abstract

Do NOT UNDERRATE THIS BOOK BECAUSE of its deceptive title: it turns out to provide a very valuable and eye-opening first person account of the theatrical and literary activities of Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (1858-1943), Russian playwright and co-director with Stanislavsky of the Moscow Art Theater, in the last dozen years of his career. It was compiled from the papers of the late Serge Bertenson, who had been Nemirovich's secretary and key assistant for several years in Moscow, and who after emigrating to America kept up a steady correspondence with his former chief in the old country. Printed entirely in Russian, this book contains 119 extensive letters written by Nemirovich to Bertenson, as well as 49 letters by other Russian cultural figures, and 171 entries from Bertenson's diary on theatrical topics. These 339 documents, almost all of which are published for the first time in any language anywhere (including the USSR), are arranged chronologically from June 30, 1928, when Bertenson permanently left Russia for Hollywood, to April 25, 1943, when Nemirovich died in Russia.