A Nervous Breakdown

by Anton Chekhov, Ronald Wilks (Translator)

"I did have hallucinations, but did they harm anyone? Who did they harm, that's what I'd like to know!"

From the supreme artist of the short story, three disturbing tales of supernatural hallucinations, hysterical obsession and moral decay.

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Fiction, Russian Literature, Russia, Literature, 19th Century

104 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1895

About the author

Antón Chéjov (Spanish)

Dramas, 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 [a:Alfred Dreyfu

Reviews

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Penguin Little Black Classic edition contains three short stories: A Nervous Breakdown, The Black Monk, and Anna Round The Neck. Since the last story doesn’t have its own Goodreads section, I’ll review it here too.

A Nervous Breakdown - 2 stars

This was a bit eccentric and I can't say for certain if the story itself is meant to be a critique on social injustice and oppression, viewed through the protagonist's sociological lens, or if it's simply about the character's nervous breakdown. Vasiliev hates going to brothels and finds the women's situation shameful. He wants to save them from such degradation, yet he is unable to do so. At one point he imagines saving the men instead, but any plan feels futile once he realises prostitution cannot be fixed by one man alone, and instead acknowledges its systematic root. Eventually, he goes quite delirious. That said, this book is literally about the breakdown of his mind, but the way it is paired with the mundane writing and non-resolute ending, the book stands as a meditation on whether the problem is Vasiliev’s mind or the world itself; and it doesn’t help that the entire book felt dull. Perhaps both of my aforementioned conclusions work, and are even interconnected in a profound way.

Anna Round The Neck - 3.6 stars

I enjoyed this far better than I expected. Anna marries a wealthy man decades older than her, leaving her poor father and brothers behind — perhaps in hopes of giving them a better life through her husband's money. Yet, that isn't quite what happens. After the marriage, the story starts to feel familiar. A girl in poverty climbs the social ranks, but what happens to her family then? Here, Chekhov explores alcoholism’s impact and how the pressures of elite society can transform a person. It's the credible possibility that such things still happen, even in modern times, that lends the story its profound impact. However, I believe Anna isn’t inherently ignorant; she’s simply so caught up in society that she may have forgotten the main(?) reason she married her husband after all. If anything, she’s a character people might describe as a survivor, though that is very much debatable, especially since her family isn't savouring the same things she is. But that just proves how unfair reality is.

2.8 stars

[tragedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

man finding out women are oppressed leads him to a mental breakdown, wish that happened more irl

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read something by Anton Chekhov for quite a while now, and I'm glad I finally did. A Nervous Breakdown was much more interesting than I'd expected.

This book consists of three short stories, the first two touch heavily on the topic of mental illness, while the third had little to do with it.

The first story, A Nervous Breakdown contains a surprisingly intriguing discussion about the morality of prostitution, and it was handled in a manner I did not expect from a story written in 1895.
- 4 stars

The Black Monk is a story about a man who sees a black monk that no one else perceives, i.e., a hallucination, but this does not alarm him, instead he feels happy and blessed. It was masterfully written, the plot carefully constructed, and the ending deeply fitting (although a bit disturbing).
- 5 stars

Anna Round the Neck is the shortest of the three, and blissfully so. It was quite promising at the beginning, but it ended too soon. That is, I felt that it was rushed and not very well-developed. The ending is not very satsifying.
- 3 stars

[Emily Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Man realises women are human beings, develops basic empathy and has a breakdown

[Kariniix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chekhov's men are not ok. Send help.

[Flo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hm... one can't know everything, of course... However capacious your brain is, it won't accommodate everything.

This collection includes three short stories.
A nervous breakdown: 4 stars. The character's internal conflict with prostitution was unexpected. An interesting debate there, Chekhov.

The black monk: 4 stars. A very vivid account of a man and his experience with happiness and hallucinations.

Anna round the neck: 2 stars. Luckily, it's the shortest story, or I'd have ended up with an actual nervous breakdown. Out of boredom. Also, not the smartest pick, as it had little to do with mental illness, so it felt like the last option to fill space.


June 29, 18
* Perhaps later on my blog.

[ashelen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i can’t decide if i actually enjoyed this book or if i was intrigued by it

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Russian literature never fails to intrigue me with its mad, plagued, and anguished protagonists. The black monk is certainly my favorite of the three short stories.

[Mika (semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I expected to see a nervous breakdown and that was truly the only reason for my interest in this book, I was surprisingly impressed to get more out of it.

Since the description isn't telling anything about the story of this book I will add one here:
The short story 'A Nervous Breakdown' is about 3 students who visit a brothel. The philosophical meaning behind this book is about the question:

“Is prostitution an evil or not?”

I was admiring Vassilyev (the law student) so much! He showed respect towards women, which most men don't unfortunately. There were so many moments he just spoke facts and I was like: Yes, yes, yes!

“Don’t you dare to hit the women! I won’t let you, damnation take you! You scoundrels!”

I think the meaning behind this book is certainly important. Therefore I'm wondering why it isn't that popular.

I belive that this book is quite straightforward for what it is trying to convey. Men don't get ruined they ruin while women get ruined, they don't ruin. I, of course don't mean everyone, I talk primarily about prostitution.

[...]the souls of ruined women were a mystery to him as before; but it was clear to him that the thing was far worse than could have been believed. If that sinful woman who had poisoned herself was called fallen, it was difficult to find a fitting name for all these who were dancing now to this tangle of sound and uttering long, loathsome sentences. They were not on the road to ruin, but ruined.

The quotation above, also highlights how most people don't concern themselves with the issue, but instead just ignore it, act like it doesn't exist. So many do this, to stay away from any issue, but Vassilyev acknowledges it, leading him to get a nervous breakdown, as he can't find an answer to the question, if prostitution is an evil or not.

The nervous breakdown is also well done. It made me feel uncomfortable and concerned, just like a bystander of a nervous breakdown probably would feel.
I also felt tense about the way Vassilyev said he would kill himself. And the scene he was pushed down the stairs of someone just randomly pressed their mustache on his cheek, probably implying a kiss. This book made me bond faster with a character than most 300> books could.

The ending had a deep meaning too. The question of the story was supressed instead of answered. This is not far off from reality, as many people who suffer from an unanswered question try to ease the symptoms they get along with it. The question might haven't been answered, but that made a greater impact on the reader than answering it.

StoryGraph review + content warnings

Read: 11. November 2024 - 11. November 2024

[Hamza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two stories were some of Chekhov's finest focusing on a similar theme of mental anguish. The third breaking away from this theme though not bad wasn't as great as the first two and didn't seem to fit well in this collection.

[Sabrina A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sleek matte black pocket sized book with a title which immediately caught my eye. But the inside was much more deeper than as I thought. Chekhov, famous for his short stories wrote these 3 disturbing tales of supernatural hallucinations, hysterical obsessions and moral decay. I personally enjoyed “Anne round the neck” which I think I would say, Anne whose marriage was a leash around her neck! I loved “The black monk” the most as it showed how gradually a person starts to live in the blurred line-between of his version of happiness and hallucination. Russian literature always intrigued me and this was indeed a good read.

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Nervous Breakdown by Anton Chekhov

10 out of 10





This is just one of the fabulous Short Stories of the wondrous Anton Chekhov – listed among the Top Works in World Literature https://thegreatestbooks.org/lists/28 - and its main theme is prostitution and its impact on the women involved in it, the idea that it is similar to slavery and that it should stop, the progressive proposition – surely for the époque of far seeing Anton Chekhov – that men are responsible for the ‘fall of the women’ – indeed, the prostitutes that is politically correct today to call sex workers were called ‘fallen women’- and this is exactly the legal concept in the Nordic countries at the present…at least Sweden is criminalizing the solicitation of sex by men – paid for sex is illegal and the ones facing charges are the males, not the females involved in such transactions – and other countries are looking at ways to apply the same model…



On the other hand, there is the issue of what to do with frustrated – especially – young men, who had an alternative and lose some steam by paying for sex – there is a tendency to legalize prostitution in quite a few places – I know there have been campaigns in my land – and have it under control, with regular visits to the doctor to check for STD and then with governments able to cash on the taxes that would be paid and control the illegal trade, the pimps and human traffickers seeing their work cut off or at the very least diminished when sex would be legal and out into the open…however, there have been articles in which we see that the always open Amsterdam, with its Red Light district is considering moving out the trade, together with the drugs selling network – the legal ones, where weed and other products are sold legally…

Vassilyev is the protagonist of The Nervous Breakdown and he is appalled at the fact that ‘fallen women’ are…well, fallen from grace, society is keeping them at the edge or beyond it, seeing them as pariah, albeit ‘in the sight of God St. Mary of Egypt is no lower than the other saints’…there is also the notion of ‘casting the first stone’ and the fact that the women are sent into this ‘oldest profession’ by men – in the story, Vassilyev talks with the girls at the brothel, trying to make simple conversation, but meanwhile trying to get to the truth, to find the essence of the problem, perhaps find solutions to a problem that haunts and pains him – making him one of the few men that do not try to take advantage of these poor girls, assimilated to slaves – and he finds that they have been duped, mostly by the same ruse, or something close…an accountant who is married buys underwear worth fifty rubles and the poor teenager that receives them falls for the gift and eventually ends in a brothel…



It is also true that reading this tale could – probably should or even must – result in introspection and eventually remorse, mea culpa and a change of ways for many readers – of the male persuasion – in the case of the under signed, he has been a ‘customer’ or criminal – if we apply the Swedish law – and without the access to paid for intercourse, his life would have been conceivably more miserable, unhappy and in consequence that of those around him…studies have shown that we have an impact on the circle that we come in contact with – as if we needed a confirmation for that – and in the case of some people, the figure can be as high as 1,000…one expert states this in terms of ‘I know I have an influence over my son’s friend’s mother’…the example of Emil Buzatu comes to mind, a man so notorious at our club downtown, in the days when there had been such a thing, before the pandemic has struck, that he used to know…well, everybody, he was one of those points mentioned in the book by iconic Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point and we can refer to the Kevin Bacon number, the six degrees of separation and there are some individuals that have thousands of connections, while others – most of us – are bonded with just a few…



Eventually, his friends take Vassilyev to the doctor, a psychiatrist that asks questions about drinking, diseases of mother and father, trying to establish a possible genetic disease, and although he- the doctor – agrees that prostitution is a plague, it is appalling to see how the hero is somehow pushed against the wall, labeled as ‘unwell’ and in need of treatment , when he is in fact the only one with a moral spine, the correct assessment of the situation, albeit he is a visionary and well before his time – indeed, even today, the issue is complex and there is no clear path, a solution that would balance all the factors involved…there is also an interesting anecdote included in the tale, perhaps we should call it a joke, with two killers murdering a beggar in a forest and finding that the dead man has some pork lard, which they prepare to eat, when one of them says it is impossible, because…it is Wednesday…apparently, that was a fasting day, which happens to be Friday in our parts, but it shows hypocrisy, the way in which we tolerate massive fraud and sins and we show no mercy towards minor transgressions…



The Party aka The Name Day Dinner Party

In this short story, Olga Mihalovna is the heroine and her husband is celebrating his name day, apparently at her expense, somewhat literally and figuratively, seeing as she is or used to be richer than he is, coming into the marriage with a considerably bigger fortune, and more importantly, that he is neglecting her and even worse, he is flirting and making advances to an attractive teenager – granted, that was the age when girls of fifteen fell in love and married, often the latter without the former…think Sonya, who is fifteen in War and Peace –



Olga Mihalovna is able to see her spouse as he talks with infatuation to this girl and for good reason, the wife is so infuriated and appalled that she would confront her husband with the result that the conflict can degenerate, but then she sees that she cannot live without him and her insult, in referring to his resentment of her bigger wealth and the diminishment of his pride as a result of that could have unwanted consequences…the tale is not just about a marital conflict, the ups and downs of love and The Seven Secrets of Making Marriage Work – which is incidentally a classic of psychology, a landmark work by the one who has an accuracy rate of over ninety percent…after a few minutes of conflictual interaction, he is able to say with that incredible rate which couples are going to stay together and which will separate…the one and only John Gottman http://realini.blogspot.com/2015/07/t... –

Pyotr Dmitrich, the husband, is a complex character, he is not just a philandering spouse, but he has views on the freedom of speech and he is aghast at the notion that ‘one can talk against anything under the sun, but he is allowed to say nothing against some notabilities’ and he faces trial…when Olga Mihalovna falls sick, the two married people may find that their differences and transgressions – well, which means his mistakes and abuses – pale when set against great danger…

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I recently saw my first Chekhov play, Uncle Vanya, just before the lockdown. And seeing the masterly crafted sadness there, I was not surprised that the stories included in A Nervous Breakdown would also focus for a large part on mental health/happiness.

Especially the first two stories, A Nervous Breakdown and The Black Monk were very interesting, although I did think that the main character in A Nervous Breakdown, breaks down into the aforementioned breakdown rather quickly. The final story, about a young woman who finds out she shouldn't have married just for money, was maybe slightly less interesting but still a short and nice read.

~Little Black Classics #111~

[Vienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are three short stories in this collection and this time I decided to show you a really short summary of each one, with my short opinion about and after that my opinion about the entire collection.

I love the first story (A Nervous Breakdown)! This story is written so beautifully and I love the moral in this one! about a man called Vasilyev. His two friends bring him to a famous prostitute street, but all he can see is how disgusting and wrong that business is. He thinks about it all the time and doesn't understand why this is still a thing and would love to stop it (like why could men think it's okay and see women as animals?), 'cuz he only wants to be in love with a woman. He tries to think of a plan to stop this business, but then gets all mad and gets a nervous breakdown. His friends try to help him but also think he's kinda crazy.

The second story is called The Blank Monk, which is about a man who is bored with life and gets kinda crazy (a black monk ''comes by'' and gives him all the answers about life in general and how to be happy). I really liked this story, the only that bothered me though is why we never get to know what was in the letter at the beginning of this short story. I think that would have made the story even better, if it was explained (even if it was just a little).

The last story, called Anne Round Your Neck was awesome too. It's about an eighteen year old girl marries a fifty-two year old man, just because of his money, but she realizes that money shouldn't be the only thing to marry a man..

Again I loved all of the short stories. Penguin has done a great job when it comes to Anton Chekhov so I highly recommend his both little black classics. It made me want to read more by him now.

[Arthur Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories by Chekhov of madness. I liked the first 2 stories (A Nervous Breakdown and The Black Monk) which focused more on obsessions that led to their suffering. Anna Round the Neck, the last story, was the weak one in this small collection.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the author meant for these stories to be serious, but especially the first one was just hilarious.

story 1: random dude feels alienated in a brothel and loses his mind over his responsibility to "solve" prostitution. Ends up having a nervous breakdown over it

story 2: a man gets "haunted" by monks dressed in black who appear on the horizon and tell him he's a genius. He marries a girl, then turns out to be really mean and torments her and her father. They try to cure him but he ends up running away because they're "endangering" his genius. He becomes a professor, starts a relationship with a woman who treats him like a baby, and when his wife's father dies, he dies too because he feels guilty (after seeing a monk again).

story 3: girl marries a really old disgusting man for money so she can support her alcoholic father and her brothers. She is scared of him at first, then finds her autonomy, insults him and starts living her best life. Her dad remains an alcoholic.

[Vesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three beautiful stories are included in this book. Nothing much happens in any of them besides the development of the main characters in a masterful indirect way. I love how simple the stories seem but manage to dig deep into human nature and consciousness. I love reading stories the focus of which are the dilemmas of the characters about norms, sanity, morals, values, and other matters. I loved the characters in spite of not being able to remember their names without going back to the stories: there’s a main character Andrey and a minor Andrew…. Now, tell me, how do I avoid mixing them?
My favorite out of the three was the second one “The Black Monk”. I’ll tell you why. One of the reasons I bought this collection (A Nervous Breakdown) instead of another I was about to (Gooseberries) was the quote printed in the first page of the edition which goes:
“I did have hallucinations, but did they harm anyone? Whom did they harm, that’s what I’d like to know?”
It was extracted from “The Black Monk”, and the quote is closely related to Kovrin’s journey of coming up with those questions –which are the core of the story.
Kovrin thinks that work helps in avoiding insanity, meaning that it makes one feel sane; but what does a “sane” society make of a person who only feels sane when working? The fact that many readers have found parts of themselves in Kovrin suggests that sanity isn’t what most people look for in this life anyway, so why should it be considered “the norm”?
This is a topic elaborated by literatures of all languages and I can’t wait to read pieces in which Chekhov (and his fellows) explore it further.

[Gabrielle Dorothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nervous breakdown - 3.8
The black monk - 3
Anna round the neck - 2

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A summary:

Oh no prostitution

[sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

[Maria Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story feels heavy and unsettling in a quiet way. It made me feel uncomfortable and reflective, especially as a woman, but I think that’s what makes it powerful. Three stories, three different lives, all painfully human. Each one left me uneasy in a quiet way, the kind that makes you pause and reflect. Chekhov has a way of making ordinary moments feel heavy, and that’s what stayed with me after reading. Not an easy read, but definitely thought-provoking.

[hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love both A Nervous Breakdown and The Black Monk cause it highlighted issues on psychological anxiety; the perspectives and perceptions.

In A Nervous Breakdown, Vasilyev feeling distressed after his visit to few brothels for the first time. Guilt, disgust and shame and of that little voices debating inside his mind that lead him to a symptom of a nervous breakdown. A quirky storytelling, quite distressing but entertaining.

The Black Monk was quite harrowing but I love the idea and its characters development. An interesting view of hallucinations, Kovrin chatty session with the black monk quite addictive and bizarre; somehow I admire the imaginary he creates, the delirium and excitements. "I was going out of my mind but I was bright and cheerful, even happy." Too bad, there's no happy ending at the end.

The third story has the lightest narrative compared to the previous two stories. Anna Round The Neck revolves around a story of a young girl marrying a rich old civil servant for money. The narrative following her new life and hope to gain financial stability, her realisation of the actual intention, view on morality and responsibilities/adulthood.

Overall, I love Chekhov's style of narration, like a bleak vignette-- depressive but vivid.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good russian classic short stories about mental illnesses tbh

[João Vaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is composed of 3 stories about mental illness: a nervous breakdown, a manic episode, and being a woman (arguably the worst of the 3).

[David Halada · Rating 5 out of 5]

They have to stop writing books about me fr fr

[Sophy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, these were a lame set of three stories from Chekhov, the best of the bunch being The Black Monk.

A Nervous Breakdown and Anna Round The Neck I thought were pretty pointless stories with no real meaning or trajectory.

The Black Monk at least had some believable characters and a semi-interesting story but it wasn't enough to hold this triptych of a mess together.

Off to the library with my copy.

[lachlan is reading books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stories of women’s dignity through three different classes, features madness but women drive Chekhov mad.

The first story is moral but unconvincing, looking at the causes of abuse in sex work. The idea stumbles and forces its way through simple prose.

No distinct conclusion is drawn, but the pieces are laid out and I take from it that prostitution is exploitative in its entirety, regardless of era or circumstance (including self-employment) - If she didn’t need to eat or be sheltered, she wouldn’t be having sex with you. Although I would say it’s not moral for the particular woman to stay in the position, clearly there is a lack of choice by coercion, necessity, and circumstance. Proprietors and consumers (i.e men) take major blame in turning a blind eye to abuses so that women can serve their lust or greed, making them numb to want of rescue. Clearly a deeper societal issue arises as a cause, tolerance of moral vice and economic inequality.

The second story feels incomplete and I’m not sure why it was written.

The wisdom taken from it is that milk and rest are more effective in treating mental illness than doctor’s potions that turn you into a brainless golem.

Wife’s favourite song: Black Beauty - LDR

The third story is unremarkable but has nice ideas about family dynamics as a result of class movement.

[Alexis Ty]

I <3 CHEKHOV

[Sarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like any other kind of life- pleasure. True pleasure is knowledge, and eternal life will afford innumerable and inexhaustible sources of knowledge: this is the meaning of the saying, “ in my father’s house are many mandions “

My friend, only the mediocre, the common herd are healthy and normal. Thoughts about an age of neurosis, overwork, degeneracy and so on can seriously worry only those for whom the purpose of life lies in the present- that is, the common herd.

But why ? The monk said in astonishment. Is joy something supernatural? Shouldn’t it be looked on as man’s normal state? The higher man’s intellectual and moral development, the freer he is and the more pleasure life gives him. Socrates, Diogenes and Marcus Aurelius experienced joy, not sadness. And the Apostle says “Rejoice evermore”. So rejoice and be happy.

How fortunate Buddha, Muhammad or Shakespeare were in not being treated by kind-hearted relatives for ecstasy and inspiration ! Kovrin said ‘If Muhammad had taken potassium bromide for his nerves, had worked only two hours a day and drunk milk, then that remarkable man would have left as much prosperity as his dog. In the long run doctors and kind relatives will turn humanity into a lot of morons. Mediocrity will pass for genius and civilization will perish.

[jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried, I really did. I read a bit of Selected Stories of Anton Chekhov, most of Chehov Plays, and still -- I am failing to get into Chekhov, who is often referred to as the greatest short story writer. It is sad to think that, somehow, I could not appreciate his work.

I do not have much to say about this collection. A Nervous Breakdown was quite a solid depiction of mental disintegration. For its occupation with hysterical obsession, a favourite theme of mine, The Black Monk was not good, and I was desperate for it to end. Anne Round the Neck was too short for me to make a judgement.