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Salesman in Beijing
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Plot Summary of Salesman in Beijing
"    In 1983 Arthur Miller was invited to direct a Chinese version of his play, "Death of a Salesman." "Salesman in Beijing" is his day by day account of his experience. Most of the book focuses on the problems of communication with the Chinese actors as a result of linguistic and cultural differences. He feels that he was able to overcome these difficulties because of the dedication of the actors and the fact that the play itself deals with universal qualities that transcend local culture. He also talks about the problems of the Chinese theatre in the eighties. Intellectuals had been frowned on for a long time in China, and it was only recently that they were allowed to resume their professional activities. "
Jack Goodstein, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Salesman in Beijing
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - writer
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Ethnic/regional/gender Yes
ethnic of society (outside) - Chinese
Story of entertainer? - Director/Producer
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 60's-90's
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - American (!)
How sensitive is this person? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other people

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 (an above average amount)
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - China
Century: - 1980's-Present

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel? - encouraged
Commentary on society? Yes
Commentary on - race - capitalism
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of set of events during life
If this is a kid's book: - Age 16-Adult
Autobiography? Yes
How much dialogue in bio? - little dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 0-25% of book
How much is philosophy rather than life story? - 0-25% of book
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One Writer's Beginnings by Eudora Welty
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Richmal Crompton: The Woman Behind Just William by Mary Cadogan


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Arthur Miller Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jack Goodstein  

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