'A small jewel of a book, a knowleageable introduction to bothStanislavski's personal development and to the content and range of hiswritings' Theatre Journal'...shows the System to be a practical process - drama school students and actors will be grateful for it' Times Eductational Supplement'A carefully documented study of peak interest and value to every serious student of acting theory' ChoiceThe Stanislavski 'system' is still the only comprehensive method ofactor training we possess. His theories can be hard to grasp and manyacademic books are impenetrable on the subject. This is a concise bookfor students that presents a readable introduction to the life and workof Stanislavski. It shows the slow growth of the 'system', from itsroots in the tradition of Russian realism, to the various phases itwent through until the final emergence of the Method of Physical Actionin the years before his death. It also provides a short account of thewriting, publication and translation of Stanislavski's books on acting.In this edition, Jean Benedetti makes several important updates inthe light of new material and new translations becoming available.