When Maxudov's novel fails, he attempt suicide. When that fails, he dramatizes his novel. To Maxudov's surprise - and to the resentment of literary Moscow - the play is accepted by the legendary Independent Theatre and Maxudov plunges into a vortex of inflated egos. Each rehearsal sees more and more sparks flying higher and higher... and less and less chance of poor Maxudov's play ever being performed. Black Snow is the ultimate back-stage novel and a brilliant satire by the author of The Master and Margarita on his ten-year love-hate relationship with Stanislavsky, Method-acting and the Moscow Arts Theatre.