"This book explores the genre of Russian tragifarce - an extreme form of tragicomedy - that emerged as a phenomenon of Russian theater and drama in the nineteenth century, yet still remains an essentially uninvestigated literary and theatrical form in Western dramatic criticism.".

"The tradition of Russian tragifarce can be characterized by its strong links to Russian political and cultural history and by its significant role in the development of Russian dramatic literature and theater practice. The book argues that the dualistic character of Russian tragifarce, which is close in spirit and philosophy to Bakhtin's understanding of the medieval carnival, embodies the ambivalent spirit of Russian culture and politics.

The book further argues that the tragifarcical perception of the world can be seen as a national characteristic of the self-doubting and ironic Russian sensibility under the influence of a repressive political regime."--BOOK JACKET.