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Tales of Chekhov #1-13
The Short Stories of Anton Chekhov
A Day in the Country
Old Age
Kashtanka
Enemies
On the Way
Vanka
La Cigale
Grief
An Inadvertence
The Black Monk
The Kiss
In Exile
A Work of Art
Dreams
A Woman's Kingdom
The Doctor
A Trifling Occurrence
Old Age
Kashtanka
Enemies
On the Way
Vanka
La Cigale
Grief
An Inadvertence
The Black Monk
The Kiss
In Exile
A Work of Art
Dreams
A Woman's Kingdom
The Doctor
A Trifling Occurrence
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1932
448 people are currently reading
1996 people want to read
About the author
Anton Chekhov
5,892 books9,761 followersDramas, such as
The Seagull
(1896, revised 1898), and including "A Dreary Story" (1889) of Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, also Chekov, concern the inability of humans to communicate.
Born ( Антон Павлович Чехов ) in the small southern seaport of Taganrog, the son of a grocer. His grandfather, a serf, bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught to read. A cloth merchant fathered Yevgenia Morozova, his mother.
"When I think back on my childhood," Chekhov recalled, "it all seems quite gloomy to me." Tyranny of his father, religious fanaticism, and long nights in the store, open from five in the morning till midnight, shadowed his early years. He attended a school for Greek boys in Taganrog from 1867 to 1868 and then Taganrog grammar school. Bankruptcy of his father compelled the family to move to Moscow. At the age of 16 years in 1876, independent Chekhov for some time alone in his native town supported through private tutoring.
In 1879, Chekhov left grammar school and entered the university medical school at Moscow. In the school, he began to publish hundreds of short comics to support his mother, sisters and brothers. Nicholas Leikin published him at this period and owned Oskolki (splinters), the journal of Saint Petersburg. His subjected silly social situations, marital problems, and farcical encounters among husbands, wives, mistresses, and lust; even after his marriage, Chekhov, the shy author, knew not much of whims of young women.
Nenunzhaya pobeda , first novel of Chekhov, set in 1882 in Hungary, parodied the novels of the popular Mór Jókai. People also mocked ideological optimism of Jókai as a politician.
Chekhov graduated in 1884 and practiced medicine. He worked from 1885 in Peterburskaia gazeta.
In 1886, Chekhov met H.S. Suvorin, who invited him, a regular contributor, to work for Novoe vremya, the daily paper of Saint Petersburg. He gained a wide fame before 1886. He authored The Shooting Party , his second full-length novel, later translated into English. Agatha Christie used its characters and atmosphere in later her mystery novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . First book of Chekhov in 1886 succeeded, and he gradually committed full time. The refusal of the author to join the ranks of social critics arose the wrath of liberal and radical intelligentsia, who criticized him for dealing with serious social and moral questions but avoiding giving answers. Such leaders as Leo Tolstoy and Nikolai Leskov, however, defended him. "I'm not a liberal, or a conservative, or a gradualist, or a monk, or an indifferentist. I should like to be a free artist and that's all..." Chekhov said in 1888.
The failure of The Wood Demon , play in 1889, and problems with novel made Chekhov to withdraw from literature for a period. In 1890, he traveled across Siberia to Sakhalin, remote prison island. He conducted a detailed census of ten thousand convicts and settlers, condemned to live on that harsh island. Chekhov expected to use the results of his research for his doctoral dissertation. Hard conditions on the island probably also weakened his own physical condition. From this journey came his famous travel book.
Chekhov practiced medicine until 1892. During these years, Chechov developed his concept of the dispassionate, non-judgmental author. He outlined his program in a letter to his brother Aleksandr: "1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality; flee the stereotype; 6. compassion." Because he objected that the paper conducted against Alfred Dreyfus, his friendship with Suvorin ended
Born ( Антон Павлович Чехов ) in the small southern seaport of Taganrog, the son of a grocer. His grandfather, a serf, bought his own freedom and that of his three sons in 1841. He also taught to read. A cloth merchant fathered Yevgenia Morozova, his mother.
"When I think back on my childhood," Chekhov recalled, "it all seems quite gloomy to me." Tyranny of his father, religious fanaticism, and long nights in the store, open from five in the morning till midnight, shadowed his early years. He attended a school for Greek boys in Taganrog from 1867 to 1868 and then Taganrog grammar school. Bankruptcy of his father compelled the family to move to Moscow. At the age of 16 years in 1876, independent Chekhov for some time alone in his native town supported through private tutoring.
In 1879, Chekhov left grammar school and entered the university medical school at Moscow. In the school, he began to publish hundreds of short comics to support his mother, sisters and brothers. Nicholas Leikin published him at this period and owned Oskolki (splinters), the journal of Saint Petersburg. His subjected silly social situations, marital problems, and farcical encounters among husbands, wives, mistresses, and lust; even after his marriage, Chekhov, the shy author, knew not much of whims of young women.
Nenunzhaya pobeda , first novel of Chekhov, set in 1882 in Hungary, parodied the novels of the popular Mór Jókai. People also mocked ideological optimism of Jókai as a politician.
Chekhov graduated in 1884 and practiced medicine. He worked from 1885 in Peterburskaia gazeta.
In 1886, Chekhov met H.S. Suvorin, who invited him, a regular contributor, to work for Novoe vremya, the daily paper of Saint Petersburg. He gained a wide fame before 1886. He authored The Shooting Party , his second full-length novel, later translated into English. Agatha Christie used its characters and atmosphere in later her mystery novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd . First book of Chekhov in 1886 succeeded, and he gradually committed full time. The refusal of the author to join the ranks of social critics arose the wrath of liberal and radical intelligentsia, who criticized him for dealing with serious social and moral questions but avoiding giving answers. Such leaders as Leo Tolstoy and Nikolai Leskov, however, defended him. "I'm not a liberal, or a conservative, or a gradualist, or a monk, or an indifferentist. I should like to be a free artist and that's all..." Chekhov said in 1888.
The failure of The Wood Demon , play in 1889, and problems with novel made Chekhov to withdraw from literature for a period. In 1890, he traveled across Siberia to Sakhalin, remote prison island. He conducted a detailed census of ten thousand convicts and settlers, condemned to live on that harsh island. Chekhov expected to use the results of his research for his doctoral dissertation. Hard conditions on the island probably also weakened his own physical condition. From this journey came his famous travel book.
Chekhov practiced medicine until 1892. During these years, Chechov developed his concept of the dispassionate, non-judgmental author. He outlined his program in a letter to his brother Aleksandr: "1. Absence of lengthy verbiage of political-social-economic nature; 2. total objectivity; 3. truthful descriptions of persons and objects; 4. extreme brevity; 5. audacity and originality; flee the stereotype; 6. compassion." Because he objected that the paper conducted against Alfred Dreyfus, his friendship with Suvorin ended
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February 21, 2022
my becoming-a-genius project, part 19!
the background:
i have decided to become a genius.
to accomplish this, i'm going to work my way through the collected stories of various authors, reading + reviewing 1 story every day until i get bored / lose every single follower / am struck down by a vengeful deity.
as i began my last installment, i badly wanted a break and ignored myself. as that 700 page chunker drew to a close, i started wondering which of the ones on my shelf i should pick up next, because clearly listening to myself is not an option - and i heard the name chekhov three times in one day.
seems like a sign, no?
PROJECT 1: THE COMPLETE STORIES BY FLANNERY O'CONNOR
PROJECT 2: HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES BY CARMEN MARIA MACHADO
PROJECT 3: 18 BEST STORIES BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
PROJECT 4: THE LOTTERY AND OTHER STORIES BY SHIRLEY JACKSON
PROJECT 5: HOW LONG 'TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH? BY N.K. JEMISIN
PROJECT 6: THE SHORT STORIES OF OSCAR WILDE BY OSCAR WILDE
PROJECT 7: THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK BY ANDREW LANG
PROJECT 8: GRAND UNION: STORIES BY ZADIE SMITH
PROJECT 9: THE BEST OF ROALD DAHL BY ROALD DAHL
PROJECT 10: LOVE AND FREINDSHIP BY JANE AUSTEN
PROJECT 11: HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD BY OTTESSA MOSHFEGH
PROJECT 12: BAD FEMINIST BY ROXANE GAY
PROJECT 12.5: DIFFICULT WOMEN BY ROXANE GAY
PROJECT 13: THE SHORT NOVELS OF JOHN STEINBECK
PROJECT 14: FIRST PERSON SINGULAR BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
PROJECT 15: THE ORIGINAL FOLK AND FAIRY TALES OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM
PROJECT 16: A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN BY LUCIA BERLIN
PROJECT 17: SELECTED STORIES OF PHILIP K. DICK
PROJECT 18: HIGH LONESOME: SELECTED STORIES BY JOYCE CAROL OATES
PROJECT 19: THE SHORT STORIES OF ANTON CHEKHOV
DAY 1: A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
more like day 1: a day in the city, am i right! because i am a city mouse!
ahhhh. well this was nice. glass-of-lemonade-on-a-hot-day kinda story.
i see the appeal of country mouse-dom.
rating: 3.5
DAY 2: OLD AGE
another short little perfect one that i loved. aging is the weirdest thing to fathom and live through.
and i should know. i'm 24.
rating: 4
update, 11/1/21: taking a lil break from this project because i'm trying to read as many books as i can off of my owned tbr before the year ends without slumping, which is a recipe for disaster already.
DAY 3: KASHTANKA
after a 3 month break, WE'RE BACK!
i did this project without a break of more than a few days for a full-on year, and now it's been enough time it feels very strange to be starting it up again. but nevertheless we persist. #brave.
those who have had the misfortune of following me for a while true fans know that while real-life animals are the best, i strongly dislike reading about them.
this is a story about a dog, but really it's a metaphor, so i can forgive it.
rating: 3.5
DAY 4: ENEMIES
some titles are just better than others.
seeing a name like this in the table of contents between sh*t like "kashtanka" and "rothschild's fiddle" is like finding a minifridge full of lemon smart water in the desert.
too good to be true, and perfect for a hangover.
this is a very upfront and unambiguous account of what grief in its varying forms does to people. it analyzes itself as it goes along, which is interesting. and not a lot of work for the reader.
this is my favorite line from it:
"He passed sentence on [...] all those who live in rosy semi-darkness and smell of scent."
what a lovely and cutting way to describe rich people.
sure, in the next paragraph, chekhov dismisses such thoughts as unworthy, but we can ignore that part.
rating: 3.75
DAY 5: ON THE WAY
ok so...i skipped three days of this project.
but the very cool thing is i stopped doing it last time...AT THE THREE DAY MARK.
so technically speaking i only have to read one bonus story and we're golden.
can i do that today? good question. probably not. let's see.
sometimes i question my own readings of classics, because i have an undying optimism that leads me to perceive women as being the best characters in every story, but it sure seems like this one is about a misogynistic character but is ultimately feminist to me.
rating: 3.75
DAY 6: VANKA
i WILL catch up today, because this story is like 4 pages long! everything is coming up emma.
well. that'll teach me.
huge little match girl energy.
rating: 3
DAY 7: LA CIGALE
this is a very english 101 kind of story, with very basic themes, but it's still fun to revisit that sort of thing.
brings me back to my scholarly peak.
rating: 3.75
DAY 8: GRIEF
let me tell you, these teeny tiny stories are a real gift to my weekdays.
suddenly i am remembering i read this in school but i could not tell you when. high school? college? the other college i went to after transferring from the first one? who can say.
reading this collection is so funny because i often read the stories in the morning, so 9 times out of 10 i'm starting off my day with the knowledge that humans can never be truly good to each other and we will always feel lonely.
rating: 4
DAY 9: AN INADVERTENCE
immediately i can see that the owner of this book before me annotated the hell out of this one, which is roughly equivalent to overhearing someone talking about how good a show is right before you're about to start it.
in other words, i expect to like this. i'd better like this.
well, it's four pages long, which is a point in its favor.
also, like most of these stories, it's the same theme i mentioned yesterday, except intended to be funny this time.
rating: 3.5
DAY 10: THE BLACK MONK
having a "micro-slump" (tired and forgot how to read because of it)
so #blessed that this story is over 10 times as long as yesterday's. perfect timing i say. i love a challenge.
the writing though! like: "The sun was already setting. The flowers, having just been watered, gave forth a damp, irritating fragrance. Indoors they began singing again, and in the distance the violin had the effect of a human voice."
hallucinating a figure solely so it will give me compliments seems like something i would do so i'm back on board.
(in all seriousness this is an excellent fascinating story and i loved it.)
rating: 5
DAY 11: THE KISS
i am now a comical 10 days behind on this project, but that's a struggle for a future version of me.
plus, now i get to read this story on valentine's day, which is very thematically appropriate! we never would have gotten here if i was able to stick to things.
this was actually more a reminder of how annoying men can be, which, while always thematically appropriate, is not my idea of a valentine's celebration.
rating: 3
DAY 12: IN EXILE
taylor swift x bon iver who.
(folklore is the only taylor swift album i really know. and even then it's like 50%.)
i feel like when i was in school the idea of siberia as a place of punishment was referenced a lot more than it is now. took me a second to get this.
this is nice (in terms of its comments on what matters in life) and also sad (none of them have what matters, paltry as it is).
rating: 3.5
DAY 13: A WORK OF ART
let's go crazy and catch up a little bit. (it is, as i write this, actually day 21.)
this was like a six pager and also a joke, so i guess we should keep going?
man am i glad i'm alive now. people were just not that funny in the old times.
rating: 3
DAY 14: DREAMS
all my love and respect to chekhov, but he really comes up with some of the lamest story titles on earth.
the next story is 50 pages, so...sorry, tomorrow me, but i'll leave that to you.
another sad one about how we are all trapped by circumstance, often barred from that which we dream of regardless of social class or resources :)
rating: 4
DAY 15: A WOMAN'S KINGDOM
damn you, past me.
always a bad sign re: my time management when a short story has f*ckin' chapters.
also i find this title very foreboding...what are the chances some guy from early 20th century russia thinks this is a good thing.
i'm too bugged to REALLY appreciate this but i think it was good.
rating: 3.75
DAY 16: THE DOCTOR
actually day 23. i'm taking this whole slow and steady thing to a whole 'nother level.
and there are 7 stories left after this one so if i want to be on time i'd have to finish...today?! good god, that will never happen.
fully bizarre but 5 pages long so i have to appreciate it at least a little.
rating: 3
DAY 17: A TRIFLING OCCURRENCE
finally, another fun title. i wanna incorporate this one into my lexicon.
wait.........the title is, dare i say......a bit of a PUN!!!!!
immediate bump to the rating.
rating: 3.5
DAY 18: THE HOLLOW
another 50-pager. how i suffer.
what did i do to deserve not one, but TWO short stories with chapters when i am valiantly attempting to catch up.
not my scene, not my bag.
rating: 3
DAY 19: AFTER THE THEATRE
doing the bravest thing any human can possibly imagine: continuing to try to catch up even though i just read a really goddamn long story i did not care for.
universe has repaid me with a four page situation i really liked. girls rule. also this ends like a certain chapter of beautiful world, where are you, and as a feral sally rooney fan that is a plus for me.
rating: 4
DAY 20: THE RUNAWAY
four stories left and 150 pages to go.
something horrible is going to happen. sorry, future me.
often with these books i feel there is a true downturn in quality and i can never tell if it's real or i'm just an asshole who is getting bored.
rating: 3
DAY 21: VIEROCHKA
this sure showed me (by giving me a lovely one with pretty writing and a twist on my all time favorite theme).
rating: 4
DAY 22: THE STEPPE
now i am approx 49 days behind schedule because this story is ONE HUNDRED AND TEN PAGES LONG.
what did i do in a past life to deserve this?
ok also i did plenty to deserve it in this one but whatever.
reading this in chunks because believe it or not i am an ADULT with a LIFE and a JOB. in the first 20 pages, four people have ridden in a wagon and napped. thrilling stuff.
chekhov is a hell of an artist at writing description, but if that's all we're getting for the next 90 pages...slow going it shall be.
another 20-page chunk down. the description, which made up roughly 70% of the first chunk, has now been proportionally replaced with anti-semitism. always startling how hateful these old books can openly be!
30 pages in this chunk so i can perfectly finish it in two more and...i am not having fun, folks!
20 more pages down. 20 more to go. we are deeeeeeep in a description of a storm and i still have no real idea what this is even about.
it's not that this was bad, it's just that i'm relieved beyond human comprehension to have finished it.
rating: 2.5
DAY 23: ROTHSCHILD'S FIDDLE
let's finish this!!!
life do be kind of pointless.
rating: 4
OVERALL
i'd read bits and pieces of chekhov before this, but nowhere near enough to know what a gift he had for description, and how rarely his stories, despite having oft-clichéd themes, veer into sentimentality.
the last day of this nearly broke my brain but this was good anyway.
rating: 4
the background:
i have decided to become a genius.
to accomplish this, i'm going to work my way through the collected stories of various authors, reading + reviewing 1 story every day until i get bored / lose every single follower / am struck down by a vengeful deity.
as i began my last installment, i badly wanted a break and ignored myself. as that 700 page chunker drew to a close, i started wondering which of the ones on my shelf i should pick up next, because clearly listening to myself is not an option - and i heard the name chekhov three times in one day.
seems like a sign, no?
PROJECT 1: THE COMPLETE STORIES BY FLANNERY O'CONNOR
PROJECT 2: HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES BY CARMEN MARIA MACHADO
PROJECT 3: 18 BEST STORIES BY EDGAR ALLAN POE
PROJECT 4: THE LOTTERY AND OTHER STORIES BY SHIRLEY JACKSON
PROJECT 5: HOW LONG 'TIL BLACK FUTURE MONTH? BY N.K. JEMISIN
PROJECT 6: THE SHORT STORIES OF OSCAR WILDE BY OSCAR WILDE
PROJECT 7: THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK BY ANDREW LANG
PROJECT 8: GRAND UNION: STORIES BY ZADIE SMITH
PROJECT 9: THE BEST OF ROALD DAHL BY ROALD DAHL
PROJECT 10: LOVE AND FREINDSHIP BY JANE AUSTEN
PROJECT 11: HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER WORLD BY OTTESSA MOSHFEGH
PROJECT 12: BAD FEMINIST BY ROXANE GAY
PROJECT 12.5: DIFFICULT WOMEN BY ROXANE GAY
PROJECT 13: THE SHORT NOVELS OF JOHN STEINBECK
PROJECT 14: FIRST PERSON SINGULAR BY HARUKI MURAKAMI
PROJECT 15: THE ORIGINAL FOLK AND FAIRY TALES OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM
PROJECT 16: A MANUAL FOR CLEANING WOMEN BY LUCIA BERLIN
PROJECT 17: SELECTED STORIES OF PHILIP K. DICK
PROJECT 18: HIGH LONESOME: SELECTED STORIES BY JOYCE CAROL OATES
PROJECT 19: THE SHORT STORIES OF ANTON CHEKHOV
DAY 1: A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
more like day 1: a day in the city, am i right! because i am a city mouse!
ahhhh. well this was nice. glass-of-lemonade-on-a-hot-day kinda story.
i see the appeal of country mouse-dom.
rating: 3.5
DAY 2: OLD AGE
another short little perfect one that i loved. aging is the weirdest thing to fathom and live through.
and i should know. i'm 24.
rating: 4
update, 11/1/21: taking a lil break from this project because i'm trying to read as many books as i can off of my owned tbr before the year ends without slumping, which is a recipe for disaster already.
DAY 3: KASHTANKA
after a 3 month break, WE'RE BACK!
i did this project without a break of more than a few days for a full-on year, and now it's been enough time it feels very strange to be starting it up again. but nevertheless we persist. #brave.
this is a story about a dog, but really it's a metaphor, so i can forgive it.
rating: 3.5
DAY 4: ENEMIES
some titles are just better than others.
seeing a name like this in the table of contents between sh*t like "kashtanka" and "rothschild's fiddle" is like finding a minifridge full of lemon smart water in the desert.
too good to be true, and perfect for a hangover.
this is a very upfront and unambiguous account of what grief in its varying forms does to people. it analyzes itself as it goes along, which is interesting. and not a lot of work for the reader.
this is my favorite line from it:
"He passed sentence on [...] all those who live in rosy semi-darkness and smell of scent."
what a lovely and cutting way to describe rich people.
sure, in the next paragraph, chekhov dismisses such thoughts as unworthy, but we can ignore that part.
rating: 3.75
DAY 5: ON THE WAY
ok so...i skipped three days of this project.
but the very cool thing is i stopped doing it last time...AT THE THREE DAY MARK.
so technically speaking i only have to read one bonus story and we're golden.
can i do that today? good question. probably not. let's see.
sometimes i question my own readings of classics, because i have an undying optimism that leads me to perceive women as being the best characters in every story, but it sure seems like this one is about a misogynistic character but is ultimately feminist to me.
rating: 3.75
DAY 6: VANKA
i WILL catch up today, because this story is like 4 pages long! everything is coming up emma.
well. that'll teach me.
huge little match girl energy.
rating: 3
DAY 7: LA CIGALE
this is a very english 101 kind of story, with very basic themes, but it's still fun to revisit that sort of thing.
brings me back to my scholarly peak.
rating: 3.75
DAY 8: GRIEF
let me tell you, these teeny tiny stories are a real gift to my weekdays.
suddenly i am remembering i read this in school but i could not tell you when. high school? college? the other college i went to after transferring from the first one? who can say.
reading this collection is so funny because i often read the stories in the morning, so 9 times out of 10 i'm starting off my day with the knowledge that humans can never be truly good to each other and we will always feel lonely.
rating: 4
DAY 9: AN INADVERTENCE
immediately i can see that the owner of this book before me annotated the hell out of this one, which is roughly equivalent to overhearing someone talking about how good a show is right before you're about to start it.
in other words, i expect to like this. i'd better like this.
well, it's four pages long, which is a point in its favor.
also, like most of these stories, it's the same theme i mentioned yesterday, except intended to be funny this time.
rating: 3.5
DAY 10: THE BLACK MONK
having a "micro-slump" (tired and forgot how to read because of it)
so #blessed that this story is over 10 times as long as yesterday's. perfect timing i say. i love a challenge.
the writing though! like: "The sun was already setting. The flowers, having just been watered, gave forth a damp, irritating fragrance. Indoors they began singing again, and in the distance the violin had the effect of a human voice."
hallucinating a figure solely so it will give me compliments seems like something i would do so i'm back on board.
(in all seriousness this is an excellent fascinating story and i loved it.)
rating: 5
DAY 11: THE KISS
i am now a comical 10 days behind on this project, but that's a struggle for a future version of me.
plus, now i get to read this story on valentine's day, which is very thematically appropriate! we never would have gotten here if i was able to stick to things.
this was actually more a reminder of how annoying men can be, which, while always thematically appropriate, is not my idea of a valentine's celebration.
rating: 3
DAY 12: IN EXILE
taylor swift x bon iver who.
(folklore is the only taylor swift album i really know. and even then it's like 50%.)
i feel like when i was in school the idea of siberia as a place of punishment was referenced a lot more than it is now. took me a second to get this.
this is nice (in terms of its comments on what matters in life) and also sad (none of them have what matters, paltry as it is).
rating: 3.5
DAY 13: A WORK OF ART
let's go crazy and catch up a little bit. (it is, as i write this, actually day 21.)
this was like a six pager and also a joke, so i guess we should keep going?
man am i glad i'm alive now. people were just not that funny in the old times.
rating: 3
DAY 14: DREAMS
all my love and respect to chekhov, but he really comes up with some of the lamest story titles on earth.
the next story is 50 pages, so...sorry, tomorrow me, but i'll leave that to you.
another sad one about how we are all trapped by circumstance, often barred from that which we dream of regardless of social class or resources :)
rating: 4
DAY 15: A WOMAN'S KINGDOM
damn you, past me.
always a bad sign re: my time management when a short story has f*ckin' chapters.
also i find this title very foreboding...what are the chances some guy from early 20th century russia thinks this is a good thing.
i'm too bugged to REALLY appreciate this but i think it was good.
rating: 3.75
DAY 16: THE DOCTOR
actually day 23. i'm taking this whole slow and steady thing to a whole 'nother level.
and there are 7 stories left after this one so if i want to be on time i'd have to finish...today?! good god, that will never happen.
fully bizarre but 5 pages long so i have to appreciate it at least a little.
rating: 3
DAY 17: A TRIFLING OCCURRENCE
finally, another fun title. i wanna incorporate this one into my lexicon.
wait.........the title is, dare i say......a bit of a PUN!!!!!
immediate bump to the rating.
rating: 3.5
DAY 18: THE HOLLOW
another 50-pager. how i suffer.
what did i do to deserve not one, but TWO short stories with chapters when i am valiantly attempting to catch up.
not my scene, not my bag.
rating: 3
DAY 19: AFTER THE THEATRE
doing the bravest thing any human can possibly imagine: continuing to try to catch up even though i just read a really goddamn long story i did not care for.
universe has repaid me with a four page situation i really liked. girls rule. also this ends like a certain chapter of beautiful world, where are you, and as a feral sally rooney fan that is a plus for me.
rating: 4
DAY 20: THE RUNAWAY
four stories left and 150 pages to go.
something horrible is going to happen. sorry, future me.
often with these books i feel there is a true downturn in quality and i can never tell if it's real or i'm just an asshole who is getting bored.
rating: 3
DAY 21: VIEROCHKA
this sure showed me (by giving me a lovely one with pretty writing and a twist on my all time favorite theme).
rating: 4
DAY 22: THE STEPPE
now i am approx 49 days behind schedule because this story is ONE HUNDRED AND TEN PAGES LONG.
what did i do in a past life to deserve this?
ok also i did plenty to deserve it in this one but whatever.
reading this in chunks because believe it or not i am an ADULT with a LIFE and a JOB. in the first 20 pages, four people have ridden in a wagon and napped. thrilling stuff.
chekhov is a hell of an artist at writing description, but if that's all we're getting for the next 90 pages...slow going it shall be.
another 20-page chunk down. the description, which made up roughly 70% of the first chunk, has now been proportionally replaced with anti-semitism. always startling how hateful these old books can openly be!
30 pages in this chunk so i can perfectly finish it in two more and...i am not having fun, folks!
20 more pages down. 20 more to go. we are deeeeeeep in a description of a storm and i still have no real idea what this is even about.
it's not that this was bad, it's just that i'm relieved beyond human comprehension to have finished it.
rating: 2.5
DAY 23: ROTHSCHILD'S FIDDLE
let's finish this!!!
life do be kind of pointless.
rating: 4
OVERALL
i'd read bits and pieces of chekhov before this, but nowhere near enough to know what a gift he had for description, and how rarely his stories, despite having oft-clichéd themes, veer into sentimentality.
the last day of this nearly broke my brain but this was good anyway.
rating: 4
July 19, 2015
This is an excellent group of short stories, Chekhov's favorite form of writing. I love his stories almost without exception. He is easier to read than most of the other Classic Russian writers I have read. He was a Medical Doctor by trade, of which he was proud.. Hemingway called him an amateur writer which sounds like something he would say. My favorite story in this collection is The Black Monk.
March 31, 2011
Finished at last! What can I say except to recommend Chekhov enthusiastically to everyone.
Volume 1: The Darling and Other Stories:
"The Darling" - 3 stars: This story is about a woman whose entire life revolves around some man in her life. In the beginning it's her first husband, who dies; then she gravitates to her second husband, who also dies. She next fixates on a married officer. When he abandons her, she falls into a near catatonic state, returning to life only when the officer returns. But he returns with his wife and son, so Olenka focuses on the boy.
The interesting thing about this story is that "Tolstoy's Criticism on `The Darling'" is included at the end, and I think the great author entirely misses the point as he argues that Chekhov has unconsciously written an anti-feminist tract about the grace that redounds to a woman who offers herself wholly to another. He contends that Chekhov on the surface despises Olenka but winds up glorifying her. Chekhov doesn't despise nor laud Olenka, he simply writes about her, leaving it up to you to decide if she should be pitied or admired or (perhaps) both.
"Ariadne" - 3 stars: Here, as elsewhere, we see one facet of Chekhov's genius - He's left it again to us to decide whether or not we like his characters, he's just telling us their story. Ariadne is a gold-digger, looking for a "sugar daddy" to take care of her, and she abuses the love of a decent man in doing it. But Chekhov lays out the bare facts and lets you figure out who needs sympathy and who (if anyone, in the end) needs condemnation.
"Polinka" - 3 stars
"Anyuta" - 3.5 - 4 stars: For me, a really wrenching story about relationships and the appalling cruelty human beings are capable of.
"The Two Volodyas" - 3 stars
"The Trosseau" - 3 stars
"The Helpmate" - 3 stars
"Talent" - 3 stars
"An Artist's Story" - 3 stars
"Three Years" - 4 stars: Chekhov is a master at exploring relationships. Here we have the ill-starred marriage of two incompatible types that somehow succeeds, or at least reaches a point where husband and wife accept a measure of happiness/contentment if not love. The ending is not "happy" but it's not utterly "tragic."
_______________________________________________
Volume 2: The Duel and Other Stories:
"The Duel" - 3 stars
"Excellent People" - 3 stars
"Mire" - 3 stars
"Neighbours" - 3.5 stars
"At Home" - 4 stars
"Expensive Lessons" - 3 stars
"The Princess" - 3 stars
"The Chemist's Wife" - 3 stars
The two stories that stood out in this volume for me were "Neighbours," which is about a brother's reaction to his sister taking up with a married man, and "At Home," which chronicles the slow erosion of Vera Kardin's spirit when she returns to her family's home. Chekhov continues to explore all the ways people live their lives - accepting, adapting, struggling, often surrendering - and sometimes the despair becomes too much.
_______________________________________________
Volume 3: The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories:
"The Lady with the Dog" - 3 stars: If an American literature major reads no other Chekhov story in their studies it will probably be this one, his most famous. It's the spare, economical story of a rake and a desperately unhappy woman who fall in love with each other after a chance encounter. That summation, of course, does not do justice to the power of the story. I've just reread the last few pages, and am reminded of the tragedy and poignancy and (perhaps) optimism of the final sentence:
"A Doctor's Visit" - 3 stars
"An Upheaval" - 3 stars: I liked this story because it recounts the tale of a young servant, Mashenka, whose privacy is violated by her mistress because of a lost bauble. Rather than submit to the humiliation, Mashenka leaves.
"Ionitch" - 3 stars
"The Head of the Family" - 3 stars
"The Black Monk" - 3.5 stars: This is the story of Andrey Vassilitch Kovrin, a brilliant student who encounters the "black monk," a hallucination that inspires and counsels him - "You will lead it some thousands of years earlier into the kingdom of eternal truth - and therein lies your supreme service. You are the incarnation of the blessing of God, which rests upon men." Unfortunately, Andrey's muse is lost when he surrenders to the pressures of "proper" society.
"Volodya" - 3 - 3.5 stars
"An Anonymous Story" - 3.5 stars: Another tragic love story. A political activist and terrorist gains the position of footman in the house of the son of a general he plans to assassinate but soon finds that all of his political passions have faded in the face of the human story of his master, Orlov; Orlov's married lover, Zinaida; and himself.
"The Husband" - 3 stars
_______________________________________________
Volume 4: The Party and Other Stories:
"The Party" - 3 stars
"Terror" - 3 stars
"A Woman's Kingdom" - 3 stars
"A Problem" - 3 stars
"The Kiss" - 3.5 stars: Hitting close to home in this story about an artillery officer and a chance encounter: "There were times when he envied the boldness and swagger of his companions and was inwardly wretched; the consciousness that he was timid, that he was round-shouldered and uninteresting, that he had a long waist and lynx-like whiskers, had deeply mortified him, but with years he had grown used to this feeling, and now, looking at his comrades dancing or loudly talking, he no longer envied them, but only felt touched and mournful."
"`Anna on the Neck'" - 4 stars
"The Teacher of Literature" - 3 stars
"Not Wanted" - 3 stars
"Typhus" - 3 stars
"A Misfortune" - 4 stars: "She was breathless, hot with shame, did not feel her legs under her, but what drove her on was stronger than shame, reason, or fear."
"A Trifle from Life" - 4 stars
______________________________________________
Volume 5: The Wife and Other Stories:
"The Wife" - 3 stars: Devastating portrait of a sociopath (the husband, not the wife).
"Difficult People" - 3.5 stars
"The Grasshopper" - 3 stars
"A Dreary Life" - 3.5 stars: This is a story about a doctor who realizes (or believes) he's wasted his entire life. It's sometimes hard to read Chekhov's stories all at once because of the fatalism of most of his characters. I get the temptation to slap them and say, "Wake up! Don't accept the way things are!"
"The Privy Counsellor" - 3 stars
"The Man in a Case" - 3 stars
"Gooseberries" - 3 stars
"About Love" - 3 stars
"The Lottery Ticket" - 3 stars
______________________________________________
Volume 6: The Witch and Other Stories:
All the tales here get at least three stars. Especially disturbing is "In the Ravine" (3+ stars). The most interesting tale for me in this first reading is "Peasants." I was particularly struck by the contrast between the beauty of the countryside and the grinding poverty and fatalism of the peasantry, and the appalling indifference of the better off.
______________________________________________
Volume 7: The Bishop and Other Stories
Volume 8: The Chorus Girl and Other Stories
Volume 9: The Schoolmistress and Other Stories
Volume 10: The Horse-Stealers and Other Stories
I see that I have been unforgivably remiss in keeping up with my periodic reviews of this wonderful author. It's been too long since I read volumes 7-9 to really say anything coherent or detailed about any particular story but simply looking at the titles, I'm remembering details from "The Bishop" and "The Chorus Girl," two of the better stories.
Volume 10 (and the later ones, as I understand from an afterword I happened to glance through in the final volume) contains a lot of Chekhov's lighter, more humorous stories but - like Shakespeare - even "bad" Chekhov is better than most authors' "good" stuff.
That said, Volume 10 begins with one of Chekhov's more disturbing and darkest stories (to me) - "The Horse-Stealers" - which takes place at an isolated inn on the Ukrainian steppes.
The second story in the collection - "Ward No. 6" - is mentioned by Janet Malcolm in Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey. Her description was the catalyst that prompted me to purchase this collection in the first place (that and the fact that nearly every story she mentioned, I hadn't read - unforgivable in a Chekhov groupie). And she was right in every particular. "Ward No. 6" is a brilliant novella, and I'll quote here two passages that struck me in particular:
and
None of the other stories in this volume quite reach "Ward No. 6"'s level but all are good in their own ways.
______________________________________________
Volume 11: The Schoolmaster and Other Stories:
Most of the stories in this volume are vignettes of Russian life, most written with a humorous slant.
On a negative note - The first page of "In the Graveyard" is from "The Swedish Match (A Story of a Crime)", the final story in vol. 12.
______________________________________________
Volume 12: The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories:
The stories in Volume 12 are concerned mostly with children or animals, including one of my favorites, "Home," where a father struggles to convince his young son that he shouldn't smoke and realizes that "nothing can be accomplished by logic and ethics."
"Home" is a comedic look at childhood. Many of the stories here take a more tragic point of view. In "Varka," the young girl of the title is driven to murderous extremes; and in "A Classical Student," there's pedophilia. The scene in the latter where Vanya is "punished" by the boarder Kuporossov is so subtle and underplayed the reader is left asking, "Did what I think happen just happen?" and it makes the horror all that more visceral.
This volume also contains "Kashtanka," which is about a dog and her loyalty to her master and his son. It's a disturbing story, especially for an animal lover, as Kashtanka's love for her abusive owner trumps the care and kindness of a man who finds her when she's lost.
______________________________________________
Volume 13: Love and Other Stories:
The final volume in Garnett's translations is a mixed bag of profoundly good stories and slighter pieces that Chekhov dashed off to make ends meet, though these latter stories are by no means not interesting.
The highlights:
"Lights" - Told in flashback, it's about an older man recounting how he cruelly misled a young woman in his youth.
"A Living Chattel" - The longest story in the volume, it concerns the relationship of a husband, his wife and her lover.
"The Cossack" - This is one of several tales about husbands and wives. In this one, a recently married, initially happy couple fail to help a man in need and their lives fall apart as a consequence.
"Fat and Thin" and "The Death of a Government Clerk" are both tales of excessive and unhealthy subservience.
Volume 1: The Darling and Other Stories:
"The Darling" - 3 stars: This story is about a woman whose entire life revolves around some man in her life. In the beginning it's her first husband, who dies; then she gravitates to her second husband, who also dies. She next fixates on a married officer. When he abandons her, she falls into a near catatonic state, returning to life only when the officer returns. But he returns with his wife and son, so Olenka focuses on the boy.
The interesting thing about this story is that "Tolstoy's Criticism on `The Darling'" is included at the end, and I think the great author entirely misses the point as he argues that Chekhov has unconsciously written an anti-feminist tract about the grace that redounds to a woman who offers herself wholly to another. He contends that Chekhov on the surface despises Olenka but winds up glorifying her. Chekhov doesn't despise nor laud Olenka, he simply writes about her, leaving it up to you to decide if she should be pitied or admired or (perhaps) both.
"Ariadne" - 3 stars: Here, as elsewhere, we see one facet of Chekhov's genius - He's left it again to us to decide whether or not we like his characters, he's just telling us their story. Ariadne is a gold-digger, looking for a "sugar daddy" to take care of her, and she abuses the love of a decent man in doing it. But Chekhov lays out the bare facts and lets you figure out who needs sympathy and who (if anyone, in the end) needs condemnation.
"Polinka" - 3 stars
"Anyuta" - 3.5 - 4 stars: For me, a really wrenching story about relationships and the appalling cruelty human beings are capable of.
"The Two Volodyas" - 3 stars
"The Trosseau" - 3 stars
"The Helpmate" - 3 stars
"Talent" - 3 stars
"An Artist's Story" - 3 stars
"Three Years" - 4 stars: Chekhov is a master at exploring relationships. Here we have the ill-starred marriage of two incompatible types that somehow succeeds, or at least reaches a point where husband and wife accept a measure of happiness/contentment if not love. The ending is not "happy" but it's not utterly "tragic."
_______________________________________________
Volume 2: The Duel and Other Stories:
"The Duel" - 3 stars
"Excellent People" - 3 stars
"Mire" - 3 stars
"Neighbours" - 3.5 stars
"At Home" - 4 stars
"Expensive Lessons" - 3 stars
"The Princess" - 3 stars
"The Chemist's Wife" - 3 stars
The two stories that stood out in this volume for me were "Neighbours," which is about a brother's reaction to his sister taking up with a married man, and "At Home," which chronicles the slow erosion of Vera Kardin's spirit when she returns to her family's home. Chekhov continues to explore all the ways people live their lives - accepting, adapting, struggling, often surrendering - and sometimes the despair becomes too much.
_______________________________________________
Volume 3: The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories:
"The Lady with the Dog" - 3 stars: If an American literature major reads no other Chekhov story in their studies it will probably be this one, his most famous. It's the spare, economical story of a rake and a desperately unhappy woman who fall in love with each other after a chance encounter. That summation, of course, does not do justice to the power of the story. I've just reread the last few pages, and am reminded of the tragedy and poignancy and (perhaps) optimism of the final sentence:
"And it seemed as though in a little while the solution would be found, and than a new and splendid life would begin; and it was clear to both of them that they had still a long, long road before them, and that the most complicated and difficult part of it was only just beginning."
"A Doctor's Visit" - 3 stars
"An Upheaval" - 3 stars: I liked this story because it recounts the tale of a young servant, Mashenka, whose privacy is violated by her mistress because of a lost bauble. Rather than submit to the humiliation, Mashenka leaves.
"Ionitch" - 3 stars
"The Head of the Family" - 3 stars
"The Black Monk" - 3.5 stars: This is the story of Andrey Vassilitch Kovrin, a brilliant student who encounters the "black monk," a hallucination that inspires and counsels him - "You will lead it some thousands of years earlier into the kingdom of eternal truth - and therein lies your supreme service. You are the incarnation of the blessing of God, which rests upon men." Unfortunately, Andrey's muse is lost when he surrenders to the pressures of "proper" society.
"Volodya" - 3 - 3.5 stars
"An Anonymous Story" - 3.5 stars: Another tragic love story. A political activist and terrorist gains the position of footman in the house of the son of a general he plans to assassinate but soon finds that all of his political passions have faded in the face of the human story of his master, Orlov; Orlov's married lover, Zinaida; and himself.
"The Husband" - 3 stars
_______________________________________________
Volume 4: The Party and Other Stories:
"The Party" - 3 stars
"Terror" - 3 stars
"A Woman's Kingdom" - 3 stars
"A Problem" - 3 stars
"The Kiss" - 3.5 stars: Hitting close to home in this story about an artillery officer and a chance encounter: "There were times when he envied the boldness and swagger of his companions and was inwardly wretched; the consciousness that he was timid, that he was round-shouldered and uninteresting, that he had a long waist and lynx-like whiskers, had deeply mortified him, but with years he had grown used to this feeling, and now, looking at his comrades dancing or loudly talking, he no longer envied them, but only felt touched and mournful."
"`Anna on the Neck'" - 4 stars
"The Teacher of Literature" - 3 stars
"Not Wanted" - 3 stars
"Typhus" - 3 stars
"A Misfortune" - 4 stars: "She was breathless, hot with shame, did not feel her legs under her, but what drove her on was stronger than shame, reason, or fear."
"A Trifle from Life" - 4 stars
______________________________________________
Volume 5: The Wife and Other Stories:
"The Wife" - 3 stars: Devastating portrait of a sociopath (the husband, not the wife).
"Difficult People" - 3.5 stars
"The Grasshopper" - 3 stars
"A Dreary Life" - 3.5 stars: This is a story about a doctor who realizes (or believes) he's wasted his entire life. It's sometimes hard to read Chekhov's stories all at once because of the fatalism of most of his characters. I get the temptation to slap them and say, "Wake up! Don't accept the way things are!"
"The Privy Counsellor" - 3 stars
"The Man in a Case" - 3 stars
"Gooseberries" - 3 stars
"About Love" - 3 stars
"The Lottery Ticket" - 3 stars
______________________________________________
Volume 6: The Witch and Other Stories:
All the tales here get at least three stars. Especially disturbing is "In the Ravine" (3+ stars). The most interesting tale for me in this first reading is "Peasants." I was particularly struck by the contrast between the beauty of the countryside and the grinding poverty and fatalism of the peasantry, and the appalling indifference of the better off.
______________________________________________
Volume 7: The Bishop and Other Stories
Volume 8: The Chorus Girl and Other Stories
Volume 9: The Schoolmistress and Other Stories
Volume 10: The Horse-Stealers and Other Stories
I see that I have been unforgivably remiss in keeping up with my periodic reviews of this wonderful author. It's been too long since I read volumes 7-9 to really say anything coherent or detailed about any particular story but simply looking at the titles, I'm remembering details from "The Bishop" and "The Chorus Girl," two of the better stories.
Volume 10 (and the later ones, as I understand from an afterword I happened to glance through in the final volume) contains a lot of Chekhov's lighter, more humorous stories but - like Shakespeare - even "bad" Chekhov is better than most authors' "good" stuff.
That said, Volume 10 begins with one of Chekhov's more disturbing and darkest stories (to me) - "The Horse-Stealers" - which takes place at an isolated inn on the Ukrainian steppes.
The second story in the collection - "Ward No. 6" - is mentioned by Janet Malcolm in Reading Chekhov: A Critical Journey. Her description was the catalyst that prompted me to purchase this collection in the first place (that and the fact that nearly every story she mentioned, I hadn't read - unforgivable in a Chekhov groupie). And she was right in every particular. "Ward No. 6" is a brilliant novella, and I'll quote here two passages that struck me in particular:
"And, indeed, is it not absurd even to think of justice when every kind of violence is accepted by society as a rational and consistent necessity, and every act of mercy - for instance, a verdict of acquittal - calls forth a perfect outburst of dissatisfied and revengeful feeling?" (p. 38)
and
"'Comprehension...' repeated Ivan Dmitritch frowning. 'External, internal.... Excuse me, but I don't understand it. I only know,' he said, getting up and looking angrily at the doctor - 'I only know that God has created me of warm blood and nerves, yes, indeed! If organic tissue is capable of life it must react to every stimulus. And I do! To pain I respond with tears and outcries, to baseness with indignation, to filth with loathing. To my mind, that is just what is called life. The lower the organism, the less sensitive it is, and the more feebly it reacts to stimulus; and the higher it is, the more responsively and vigorously it reacts to reality. How is it you don't know that? A doctor, and not know such trifles! To despise suffering, to be always contented, and to be surprised at nothing, one must reach this condition' - and Ivan Dmitritch pointed to the peasant who was a mass of fat - 'or to harden oneself by suffering to such a point that one loses all sensibility to it - that is, in other words, to cease to live. You must excuse me, I am not a sage or a philosopher,' Ivan Dmitritch continued with irritation, 'and I don't understand anything about it. I am not capable of reasoning." (p. 72)
None of the other stories in this volume quite reach "Ward No. 6"'s level but all are good in their own ways.
______________________________________________
Volume 11: The Schoolmaster and Other Stories:
Most of the stories in this volume are vignettes of Russian life, most written with a humorous slant.
On a negative note - The first page of "In the Graveyard" is from "The Swedish Match (A Story of a Crime)", the final story in vol. 12.
______________________________________________
Volume 12: The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories:
The stories in Volume 12 are concerned mostly with children or animals, including one of my favorites, "Home," where a father struggles to convince his young son that he shouldn't smoke and realizes that "nothing can be accomplished by logic and ethics."
"Home" is a comedic look at childhood. Many of the stories here take a more tragic point of view. In "Varka," the young girl of the title is driven to murderous extremes; and in "A Classical Student," there's pedophilia. The scene in the latter where Vanya is "punished" by the boarder Kuporossov is so subtle and underplayed the reader is left asking, "Did what I think happen just happen?" and it makes the horror all that more visceral.
This volume also contains "Kashtanka," which is about a dog and her loyalty to her master and his son. It's a disturbing story, especially for an animal lover, as Kashtanka's love for her abusive owner trumps the care and kindness of a man who finds her when she's lost.
______________________________________________
Volume 13: Love and Other Stories:
The final volume in Garnett's translations is a mixed bag of profoundly good stories and slighter pieces that Chekhov dashed off to make ends meet, though these latter stories are by no means not interesting.
The highlights:
"Lights" - Told in flashback, it's about an older man recounting how he cruelly misled a young woman in his youth.
"A Living Chattel" - The longest story in the volume, it concerns the relationship of a husband, his wife and her lover.
"The Cossack" - This is one of several tales about husbands and wives. In this one, a recently married, initially happy couple fail to help a man in need and their lives fall apart as a consequence.
"Fat and Thin" and "The Death of a Government Clerk" are both tales of excessive and unhealthy subservience.
July 17, 2007
I had only previously heard of Anton Chekov in passing but never really felt inclined to read his work, thinking, wrongly, that he was one of those authors that is boring to read without taking a class on him ( **cough* James Joyce *cough**) but a book of his stories caught my eye at the library and I decided to finally indulge my curiosity. And.... I was absolutely blown away. Dazzled even. No special effects, no fantastical events needed. There is something so captivating and truthful about his characters, almost as if they existed in the world whether he was writing about them or not.
In general I like short stories, but this collection is truly exciting to read... every story was like opening a christmas present I wasn't expecting.
In general I like short stories, but this collection is truly exciting to read... every story was like opening a christmas present I wasn't expecting.
November 12, 2020
What a sweet man! Chekhov was an unexpected surprise. I think I had only seen 'The Cherry Orchard' at college to this point and had expected his stories to be ponderous like Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. They weren't. They were heartwarming. One of them even made me tear up--and I was alone at the time.
I am suspicious that the ISBNs for this Modern Library edition are incorrect as they do not appear in the Library of Congress database.
I am suspicious that the ISBNs for this Modern Library edition are incorrect as they do not appear in the Library of Congress database.
June 10, 2019
Chekhov's stories teach you to "let go" when you write. You can go in and out of reality just like the ordinary mind does. Chekhov reminds one of the art of Chagall.
December 15, 2021
Hur kommer det sig att ryssar blev bäst på att genomskåda människan och beskriva hennes tilltagande?
April 18, 2022
(Review is on the way)
December 13, 2020
I picked up this book for its good reviews. But after tirelessly trudging myself to find at least own story that I could connect to, I managed to finish 80% of the book, all in vain. I couldn't empathize with any story and the writing felt very distant. Maybe it is the translation or the time period the stories are based on, I couldn't get on with it and complete it.
July 7, 2018
I noticed that many reviews on this page don't refer exactly to this collection and also that my experience as a reader was quite different from that of many others. Previously I had read a few short stories by Chekhov, in particular, The Bet. To a large extent, this was what induced me to pick up this collection. However a week or two have passed and none of the stories managed to move me as did the Bet and I have to say I am disappointed. I did enjoy quite a few of the stories like Kashtanka (a dog which gets separated from his owners), Grief (the story of a man who can't find anyone to speak of his grief) and The Hollow (about a well to do family and its gradual downfall) and there would often be conversations, descriptions or just lines which would move me to thought. Yet, I was left dissatisfied. Perhaps it was the weight of expectations.
One particular cause of disturbance was Chekhov's treatment of Jewish characters. Most of the Jewish characters tended to be poor, filthy and stereotyped, "Herod" was used as an abuse etc. It seemed to me that he was as much a spreader of hate as was anyone else. This was surprising given (as I learnt) that Chekhov came out in support of Dreyfus. Perhaps his support of Dreyfus was not in contradiction with how he viewed Jewish people.
One particular cause of disturbance was Chekhov's treatment of Jewish characters. Most of the Jewish characters tended to be poor, filthy and stereotyped, "Herod" was used as an abuse etc. It seemed to me that he was as much a spreader of hate as was anyone else. This was surprising given (as I learnt) that Chekhov came out in support of Dreyfus. Perhaps his support of Dreyfus was not in contradiction with how he viewed Jewish people.
October 31, 2007
i can't give chekov a bad review. does this book grip me? no. can i learn a lot from it? of course. i am constantly assessing how much of it i have to read to be able to pin the badge on my shirt and say i've read enough. probably the whole book. cheer me on so i don't lame out.
June 27, 2023
Okuduğum kitap bu değildi, isim benzerliğinden seçtim. 60 sayfalık, MEB'in klasiklerinden bir kitap okudum. Çehov yeni bir türe yön vermiş olsa da hikayeleri diğer durum yazarlarına göre biraz daha sade ve genel mesajlar içeriyor. Bu yüzden 3/5.
December 1, 2025
Great collection of stories.
December 9, 2014
I've read almost all of Chekhov's stories in translation--and have always wanted to own this collection, although the material is all available online. I'm very happy with my purchase, and here's why:
1. The volumes are almost exact replicas of first editions released from 1916-1922: While some may consider this a drawback, with the old-style type and print, I think it's a plus--thick, generous, very readable. Chekhov is one of those writers who is meant to be read slowly; the pages here are not crammed with small, light print, and seem to encourage one to savor the writing.
These are the editions through which many great American writers, from Hemingway to Eudora Welty discovered Chekhov.
2. The covers are handsomely designed, and on the back, each volume has notes from a prominent writer--such stalwarts as Nadine Gordimer and Cynthia Ozick. These notes are not hasty blurbs, but really insightful, written at length, often demonstrating a deep knowledge of Chekhov's art. These and Richard Ford's wonderful intro, "Why We Like Chekhov," feel like must-reads.
If you like Alice Munro and Antonya Nelson (as I do), I'm finding that Chekhov, in spirit and essence, almost anticipates those two contemporary masters. But unfortunately, anthologies repeatedly seem to go for only a few Chekhov stories. Scores of lesser-known ones are left out--which is why the complete collection is invaluable to me. I would read a Munro story, which might remind me of a Chekhov piece (not that Munro is derivative at all, just that in spirit there's a resemblance), and I'd look through the complete list, and find something written in the 1890s that informs and illuminates my understanding and experience of Munro today.
There are certain writers whose work, I believe, one must have physically on the shelf--Shakespeare and Chekhov among them. This is the most comprehensive set available in English, in the US, so far. (A more extensive "Collected Works" was issued in English translation by a Russian publisher in the 80s, but is unavailable in the US.)
But that's my side. About you: If you are new to Chekhov, you might want to get a "selection" such as the ones recommended by the other excellent reviewers; if however, you are familiar with and admire Chekhov--strongly recommend this.
1. The volumes are almost exact replicas of first editions released from 1916-1922: While some may consider this a drawback, with the old-style type and print, I think it's a plus--thick, generous, very readable. Chekhov is one of those writers who is meant to be read slowly; the pages here are not crammed with small, light print, and seem to encourage one to savor the writing.
These are the editions through which many great American writers, from Hemingway to Eudora Welty discovered Chekhov.
2. The covers are handsomely designed, and on the back, each volume has notes from a prominent writer--such stalwarts as Nadine Gordimer and Cynthia Ozick. These notes are not hasty blurbs, but really insightful, written at length, often demonstrating a deep knowledge of Chekhov's art. These and Richard Ford's wonderful intro, "Why We Like Chekhov," feel like must-reads.
If you like Alice Munro and Antonya Nelson (as I do), I'm finding that Chekhov, in spirit and essence, almost anticipates those two contemporary masters. But unfortunately, anthologies repeatedly seem to go for only a few Chekhov stories. Scores of lesser-known ones are left out--which is why the complete collection is invaluable to me. I would read a Munro story, which might remind me of a Chekhov piece (not that Munro is derivative at all, just that in spirit there's a resemblance), and I'd look through the complete list, and find something written in the 1890s that informs and illuminates my understanding and experience of Munro today.
There are certain writers whose work, I believe, one must have physically on the shelf--Shakespeare and Chekhov among them. This is the most comprehensive set available in English, in the US, so far. (A more extensive "Collected Works" was issued in English translation by a Russian publisher in the 80s, but is unavailable in the US.)
But that's my side. About you: If you are new to Chekhov, you might want to get a "selection" such as the ones recommended by the other excellent reviewers; if however, you are familiar with and admire Chekhov--strongly recommend this.
February 12, 2012
On Chekhov, all I can really say is that no one, it seems to me, deals as compassionately with the stupidity of human beings. The Duel is a great example both of humans being stupid, and Chekhov being compassionate. He also does a great job capturing the way our minds work, I think. The way one thought leads to another, or the way a particular sight might lead to a totally unconnected thought. Hard to explain, but beautifully executed, and very simply. You might look at a tree, then--out of nowhere--remember something you did when you were a kid, and suddenly you feel as if you're this terrible person. If this has never happened to you, maybe you are not a person.
On Garnett: I think she's the best translator for Chekhov. I don't read Russian, so I can't attest to the word for word accuracy, but I've heard that she leaves words out, sometimes even entire clauses or sentences. The thing is that she writes very well. Her English prose is quite good, and I trust that she was only doing what was needed in order to keep the sort of sound and spirit of the text intact from one language to the other. The other translations of Chekhov that I've read generally don't compare.
On Garnett: I think she's the best translator for Chekhov. I don't read Russian, so I can't attest to the word for word accuracy, but I've heard that she leaves words out, sometimes even entire clauses or sentences. The thing is that she writes very well. Her English prose is quite good, and I trust that she was only doing what was needed in order to keep the sort of sound and spirit of the text intact from one language to the other. The other translations of Chekhov that I've read generally don't compare.
February 5, 2018
" All I wanted was to say honestly to people: 'Have a look at yourselves and see how bad and dreary your lives are!' "
Chekhov's characters are EVERYPERSON. Ill-tempered, dreary, lazy, lustful, yearning, subservient, shy and his stories never shift his unflinching gaze from the flaws in our characters. The stories in this book are very short, sometimes just three pages, which is a relief. Little snapshots into mediocrity and suffering. I applaud him for not trying to "lighten" the mood. No, life is just pretty dreary. As Yasujiro Ozu says in The Tokyo Story, "Life is disappointing, isn't it?" True masters of their art, both Chekhov and Ozu are firmly rooted in this truth.
I am a fan of this type of honesty, so I appreciated this little book. My three stars come from wanting a longer exploration of these stories, and it is perhaps why I enjoy Chekhov's plays more.
Chekhov's characters are EVERYPERSON. Ill-tempered, dreary, lazy, lustful, yearning, subservient, shy and his stories never shift his unflinching gaze from the flaws in our characters. The stories in this book are very short, sometimes just three pages, which is a relief. Little snapshots into mediocrity and suffering. I applaud him for not trying to "lighten" the mood. No, life is just pretty dreary. As Yasujiro Ozu says in The Tokyo Story, "Life is disappointing, isn't it?" True masters of their art, both Chekhov and Ozu are firmly rooted in this truth.
I am a fan of this type of honesty, so I appreciated this little book. My three stars come from wanting a longer exploration of these stories, and it is perhaps why I enjoy Chekhov's plays more.
March 9, 2025
I can’t say whether or not Chekhov is the greatest short story writer because I’ve not read all the others. But if there’s anyone better, I’d like to know who that is.
These are enthralling: bringing alive the Russia that existed between the abolition of serfdom and before the revolution. We encounter the desperate poverty of peasants and a vast array of characters from all walks of life.
Some stories are funny, most are tinged with melancholy, others heartbreaking. For much of his career Chekhov was dying of consumption and the knowledge of impending death lies behind many of the stories.
This collection contains four or five stories which will remain with me for a very long time.
These are enthralling: bringing alive the Russia that existed between the abolition of serfdom and before the revolution. We encounter the desperate poverty of peasants and a vast array of characters from all walks of life.
Some stories are funny, most are tinged with melancholy, others heartbreaking. For much of his career Chekhov was dying of consumption and the knowledge of impending death lies behind many of the stories.
This collection contains four or five stories which will remain with me for a very long time.
June 23, 2013
Gave up part way through first story I read, The Lady With the Dog. People having an affair, being stupid, didn't care about them. Not a good intro to Chekov. I like the Chekov on Star Trek better at this point.
August 11, 2015
About 2/3 through this book of Chekhov short stories. Chekhov is interesting. Many stories are vignettes of life without plots. Many seem to stop where other stories would begin.
December 2, 2023
Several of these stories were absolutely amazing. Particularly, "A Dreary Story," arguably a novella, kept me captivated in the strength of the story.
The focus on much of these works is rather depressing - wasted life, loneliness, trapped situations, etc. Yet, they're so well done that I often found myself hard pressed to believe the stories are as old as they were.
Not every story captivated me, but the worst thought I had was that they didn't speak to me as much as the others.
What makes Chekhov so appealing (and why I wish I'd tried him earlier and will certainly be reading more) is that he's so clearly dedicated to the story telling. The narratives focus on characters and challenges of those characters. Themes are a result of the story, which works because the stories have enough depth to do that.
The focus on much of these works is rather depressing - wasted life, loneliness, trapped situations, etc. Yet, they're so well done that I often found myself hard pressed to believe the stories are as old as they were.
Not every story captivated me, but the worst thought I had was that they didn't speak to me as much as the others.
What makes Chekhov so appealing (and why I wish I'd tried him earlier and will certainly be reading more) is that he's so clearly dedicated to the story telling. The narratives focus on characters and challenges of those characters. Themes are a result of the story, which works because the stories have enough depth to do that.
February 23, 2021
Last year I read his plays. It seems to me that short stories used to be “bigger” and more important than they are now. They weren’t just something writers did as training to become novelists. Chekhov has a very clear style, especially in descriptions. I think he does a little better with subjects drawn from the middle and professional classes than ordinary or peasant Russians. There’s something about writing about ordinary folks that makes Russian writers sappy.
June 22, 2020
Some powerful shorts stories and my first reading of Chekov. I listened to the Audiobook with Richard Armitage who made the words come alive.
I particularly enjoyed Ward 6, The Betrothed (The Bride) and the Black Monk. This certainly has opened my eyes to a great author and playwright i will look for more of his work.
I particularly enjoyed Ward 6, The Betrothed (The Bride) and the Black Monk. This certainly has opened my eyes to a great author and playwright i will look for more of his work.
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January 8, 2021falar de uma pessoa especifica e conseguir retratar a humanidade e uma qualidade similar à de quem, falando de seu vilarejo, consegue analisar o mundo. o brilho de um caco de vidro descreve o luar. é o mundo que tchekov habita. a importância de nossos nadas cotidianos não aparece senão com a mudança súbita do destino que só perceremos em retrospecto
August 8, 2021
Çehov'un bu kitapta yer alan kısa öykülerinden bilhassa tren yolu traverslerinden balık oltasına ağırlık yapmak için somun çalan köylünün savunmasını, parasına tombala oynayan çocukların tatlı çekişmelerini ve elini ağaç kovuğuna sıkıştıran çocuğu kurtaran yoksul köylünün alçakgönüllülüğünü ve doğa hakkındaki bilgeliğini çok sevdim. İçimi ısıtıp ruhumu şenlendirdiler...
December 14, 2021
I couldn't find the version I had (I had 'Signet Classics'), but it was shorter than this one, and contained different stories. I liked the book, even though it was hardcover. I can't tell if it is Chekhov or the translator, but the prose is dry. It gets the message across, but is not beautiful or musical in any way.
Chekhov is very insightful into people.
Chekhov is very insightful into people.
December 24, 2021
It took me a long time to finish this book, but I really enjoyed it. Each story is incredibly immersive and is a slice of life. Before starting to read, you are guaranteed you will not find a happy ending in any of these stories - it is just life, at the end of the 18th century: brutal, unfair and raw.
May 4, 2023
Whether it's the struggling artist in "The Black Monk" or the unhappily married couple in "The Lady with the Dog," each character is unique and intriguing. I found myself sympathizing with their struggles and cheering for their triumphs, even when they weren't exactly likeable.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
May 9, 2020
Another book I stole from my late grandfather's book collection. I stole his copy because it was a first edition hehe.
A Work of Art and The Hollow are my favorites from this collection.
A Work of Art and The Hollow are my favorites from this collection.
October 4, 2020
very well written stories
June 18, 2022
Üniversite sınavında gozetmenlik yaparken 6. sınıf kütüphanesinde buldum ve sınav sırasında okuyup bitirdim 😊
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