Reading the Russians with George Saunders

Guest host Kate Burton presents three Russian classics that reflect on the humor, humanism, and poetry of this great literary tradition, from an evening curated by Saunders.  In addition to his award-winning short-story anthologies and novel, Saunders teaches at Syracuse University.  In “After the Theatre,” by Anton Chekhov, a young girl writes imaginary love letters.  The reader is Donna Lynne Champlin.  “The Porcelain Doll” by Leo Tolstoy is based on a letter he wrote to his young sister-in-law—about his own wife!  BD Wong is the reader.  Fyodor Dostoevsky’s “Bobok” may remind some of Saunders’ own Lincoln in the Bardo.  A dotty civil servant overhears the conversations of the dead, who are voiced by Becca Blackwell, Peter Jay Fernandez, Santino Fontana, Zach Grenier, Ann Harada, and Peter Mark Kendall.  And a special treat follows “Bobok.”  Anna Dzhanaeva and Luba Lapina, members of the Moscow English Literature Club, read excerpts from “After the Theatre” and “The Porcelain Doll” in Russian. Join and give!: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/symphonyspacenyc?code=Splashpage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.