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Tales of Chekhov #5
The Wife and Other Stories
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian short story writer and a playwright. His playwriting career produced four classics, while his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Chekhov practiced as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: "Medicine is my lawful wife, " he once said, "and literature is my mistress." Chekhov renounced the theatre after the disastrous reception of The Seagull in 1896; but the play was revived to acclaim by Constantin Stanislavski's Moscow Art Theatre, which subsequently also produced Uncle Vanya and premiered Chekhov's last two plays, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard. These four works present a special challenge to the acting ensemble as well as to audiences, because in place of conventional action Chekhov offers a "theatre of mood" and a "submerged life in the text." His originality consists in an early use of the stream-of-consciousness technique combined with a disavowal of the moral finality of traditional story structure.
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1898
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About the author
Anton Chekhov
5,890 books9,755 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 10, 2023
بحران میانسالی باعث میشه از اول دنبال جایگاهت تو دنیا بگردی و معمولا با تغییر همراهه. گاهی این تغییرات خیلی بزرگ هستند و مسیر زندگی آدم رو برای همیشه عوض میکنند.
December 10, 2021
So this is the second work I've read by Chekhov and I think he's an exceptional writer, but I personally, just don't enjoy him. But it's not because of the way he writes, which is beautiful and captivating, but because of his characters. I have a hard time getting into stories when I can't love a character. I found his characters selfish in their motives and insipid when dealing with each other. I got annoyed constantly when trying to relate to them. I could absolutely relate to the circumstances, but the characters emotions left me bereft and wanting more. I think it will be a while before I pick up any more Chekhov, which is disappointing, because there are many Russian authors I love, just not this one.
May 8, 2021
I've just finished the last of the nine Chekhov stories in this volume. Thanks to my "Catching Up" group for getting me started with "Gooseberries". I saved "The Wife" for last, and it was my favorite. 4 stars from me. One day I plan to read some of his short novels/ novellas- my library has a book of five of them.
March 30, 2017
This has been on my Currently Reading shelf for 6 weeks, but, trust me, that isn’t because I didn’t care for it. I read a story (or two) and then read a novel, and then read a story, and then read a novel.
Chekhov is full of irony, but not twist endings. The stories are largely characterizations devoid of action. Each choice we make in life has a cost. In A Dreary Story, perhaps the longest of the stories, a man has worked hard in his profession and become quite respected in the larger world. But what of his family life?
I do enjoy reading short stories, but perhaps I got my fill of them this fall for the time being.
Chekhov is full of irony, but not twist endings. The stories are largely characterizations devoid of action. Each choice we make in life has a cost. In A Dreary Story, perhaps the longest of the stories, a man has worked hard in his profession and become quite respected in the larger world. But what of his family life?
I have a feeling as though I had once lived at home with a real wife and children and that now I am dining with visitors, in the house of a sham wife who is not the real one, am looking at a Liza who is not the real Liza. A startling change has taken place in both of them; I have missed the long process by which that change was effected, and it is no wonder that I can make nothing of it.One story involved a man who spent his life in town, saving and scrimping so that he could buy a farm and have gooseberry bushes. Will the gooseberries be sweet?
I do enjoy reading short stories, but perhaps I got my fill of them this fall for the time being.
February 16, 2017
“Love, marry, do silly things. Foolishness is a great deal more vital and healthy than our straining and striving after a meaningful life.”
Chekhov has always attracted me with his non-judgmental, cold observation of life around him. I feel that he considered everyone around him to be eternal children. He does not chide them for their mistakes; instead he looks at them with a great deal of understanding.
Reading his works, I feel that Chekhov understood humanity, understood something about life that I would never be able to grasp. Great man.
Chekhov has always attracted me with his non-judgmental, cold observation of life around him. I feel that he considered everyone around him to be eternal children. He does not chide them for their mistakes; instead he looks at them with a great deal of understanding.
Reading his works, I feel that Chekhov understood humanity, understood something about life that I would never be able to grasp. Great man.
December 14, 2022
Top tip: Dreary Story may be my favorite Chekhov tale. It’s on aging: a decent man troubled by illness, doubt, centerlessness, hostility.
May 28, 2016
Translated by Constance Garnett, this collection by Anton Chekhov consists of nine stories: The Wife, Difficult People, The Grasshopper, A Dreary Story, The Privy Councillor, The Man in a Case, Gooseberries, About Love and The Lottery Ticket. In one, a dying man—much esteemed, much feted—dwells on his life and tries to make sense of both the past and whatever future is left to him. In another, a beautiful and vivacious woman marries a quiet, sedate man with whom she is happy for a while, until a more exciting love comes her way. In another, the chance of winning 75,000 roubles in a lottery sends a man and his wife into a realm of daydreams which swiftly turn unpleasant.
Most of these stories are not so much about a gripping plot, a brilliant series of events, but about human nature. Chekhov’s brilliance lies in the way he manages to plumb the depths of human emotion: the ability to love and hate at the same time; the degree of obsession which can turn an otherwise sane man’s life upside-down; the need to keep up with the Joneses (or the Ivanovitches, or whatever). There was so much in these stories that I found myself being able to relate to, because I have felt these conflicting emotions, I have known what is to be part of the human race.
And that is exactly what The Wife and Other Stories is about: an insight into the human mind, the human heart, the human soul. It made me think, it (occasionally) made me laugh with its satirical humour; it made me nod my head in agreement. It made me understand why Chekhov is considered one of the world’s greatest writers of the short story. I still think some of the longer stories (The Privy Councillor, for one) meander a little too much, and may (ironically) violate the principle of Chekhov’s Gun; this is the main reason I only liked this book, didn’t love it.
Most of these stories are not so much about a gripping plot, a brilliant series of events, but about human nature. Chekhov’s brilliance lies in the way he manages to plumb the depths of human emotion: the ability to love and hate at the same time; the degree of obsession which can turn an otherwise sane man’s life upside-down; the need to keep up with the Joneses (or the Ivanovitches, or whatever). There was so much in these stories that I found myself being able to relate to, because I have felt these conflicting emotions, I have known what is to be part of the human race.
And that is exactly what The Wife and Other Stories is about: an insight into the human mind, the human heart, the human soul. It made me think, it (occasionally) made me laugh with its satirical humour; it made me nod my head in agreement. It made me understand why Chekhov is considered one of the world’s greatest writers of the short story. I still think some of the longer stories (The Privy Councillor, for one) meander a little too much, and may (ironically) violate the principle of Chekhov’s Gun; this is the main reason I only liked this book, didn’t love it.
April 5, 2022
I now think that Anton Chekhov is at the very least the equal of the two-headed Tolstoyevsky (as my mother referred to them). The Wife and Other Stories has some of my favorite Chekhov short stories, particularly "The Wife," "A Dreary Story," and the three Ivan Ivanovich and Burkin tales at the end.
What impresses me most about the best of his stories is that he seems to have an incredibly accurate picture of how a life can change over time, for good or (usually) ill. Take, for example, this paragraph from "Gooseberries":
What impresses me most about the best of his stories is that he seems to have an incredibly accurate picture of how a life can change over time, for good or (usually) ill. Take, for example, this paragraph from "Gooseberries":
And this order of things is evidently necessary; evidently the happy man only feels at ease because the unhappy bear their burdens in silence, and without that silence happiness would be impossible. It’s a case of general hypnotism. There ought to be behind the door of every happy, contented man some one standing with a hammer continually reminding him with a tap that there are unhappy people; that however happy he may be, life will show him her laws sooner or later, trouble will come for him—disease, poverty, losses, and no one will see or hear, just as now he neither sees nor hears others. But there is no man with a hammer; the happy man lives at his ease, and trivial daily cares faintly agitate him like the wind in the aspen-tree—and all goes well.Sometimes, Chekhov gets it so right that it's startling.
September 20, 2019
Chekhov never ceases to amaze
September 27, 2019
A Gem!
May 22, 2010
I have been wanting to start reading Chekhov' short stories for quite some time. I was finally prompted to start when Francine Prose, in her excellent book "Reading Like a Writer," said that Chekhov's short stories were her favorite and that all aspiring writers should read them. She talked a lot about his stories, especially about their well-crafted language, character descriptions, and how they broke common rules.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was a little disappointed. I do admire Chekhov's character description and his description of nature, particularly the Russian landscape. For me, though, a lot of his plots fell short. Some of the stories had no real beginning and no real ending. Rather they were inter-connected parts of other stories that were included in the volume, and read like a novel told in serials, with one short story picking up where another left off. It was interesting to read about the day in the life of a 19th-century Russian official, and to read his philosophical meanderings related to peasantry and education and the like, but some of the stories consisted of only that, and after awhile parts of them became rather redundant and boring. To me Tolstoi's Ana Karenina, which I have been reading off and on for some time (way too long!) now, contains everything that most of these short stories did, and more, because it sticks with the same engaging characters and has a moving plot, even if some of it gets bogged down with the same philosophical meanderings. Perhaps if I hadn't read Tolstoi or Dostoevsky I would have really loved Chekhov, I'm not sure. At this point in time, though, although I liked him, I didn't like him as much as those two authors.
I liked the stories contained in the beginning of this book more than the stories at the end; perhaps it was due to the redundancy factor. My favorite was "The Grasshopper," which was about a young woman who was married to a rather boring, older doctor, but her heart was with the theater and with the dramatic and famous people she hung out with. Eventually she has an affair and leaves her husband, and in many way this is a timeless story about relationships, that could have been told yesterday as much as it could have been told in Chekhov's time. The story seemed so realistic that I did some research into Chekhov's life and found that he married an actress named Olga (which is the name of the wife in the story) and that there were many other similarities between his life with her and the life of the couple in the story.
I will read more short stories by Chekhov and thus far my conclusion is that I really enjoy some of them and I don't really enjoy others. So it may be one of those experiences where I read everything to find the gems. I did enjoy this book although I didn't love it as much as I was expecting to, and I give it 3.5 stars.
Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was a little disappointed. I do admire Chekhov's character description and his description of nature, particularly the Russian landscape. For me, though, a lot of his plots fell short. Some of the stories had no real beginning and no real ending. Rather they were inter-connected parts of other stories that were included in the volume, and read like a novel told in serials, with one short story picking up where another left off. It was interesting to read about the day in the life of a 19th-century Russian official, and to read his philosophical meanderings related to peasantry and education and the like, but some of the stories consisted of only that, and after awhile parts of them became rather redundant and boring. To me Tolstoi's Ana Karenina, which I have been reading off and on for some time (way too long!) now, contains everything that most of these short stories did, and more, because it sticks with the same engaging characters and has a moving plot, even if some of it gets bogged down with the same philosophical meanderings. Perhaps if I hadn't read Tolstoi or Dostoevsky I would have really loved Chekhov, I'm not sure. At this point in time, though, although I liked him, I didn't like him as much as those two authors.
I liked the stories contained in the beginning of this book more than the stories at the end; perhaps it was due to the redundancy factor. My favorite was "The Grasshopper," which was about a young woman who was married to a rather boring, older doctor, but her heart was with the theater and with the dramatic and famous people she hung out with. Eventually she has an affair and leaves her husband, and in many way this is a timeless story about relationships, that could have been told yesterday as much as it could have been told in Chekhov's time. The story seemed so realistic that I did some research into Chekhov's life and found that he married an actress named Olga (which is the name of the wife in the story) and that there were many other similarities between his life with her and the life of the couple in the story.
I will read more short stories by Chekhov and thus far my conclusion is that I really enjoy some of them and I don't really enjoy others. So it may be one of those experiences where I read everything to find the gems. I did enjoy this book although I didn't love it as much as I was expecting to, and I give it 3.5 stars.
July 29, 2019
This is the first time I'm properly reading Chekhov, touted generally as the best short story writer. I think I went in expecting a lot but I got to know his work better, I could appreciate his writing more.
One thing that I loved about Chekhov is that as with most old Russian writers I've read, his characters are on-point and the themes are surprisingly universal and still relevant. Each short story brings alive within a short expanse an entire setting and the people populating it. There is also something almost hauntingly sad about most stories. My favourites were perhaps the the eponymous "The Wife" and "A Dreary Story". Both set forth the human condition beautifully and leave a lasting impression. Especially with the latter, the imagery is very replete and the characters are very strong and stay with you. There is a despair to that story that makes it sad to the point of it almost being a horror story.
There are other stories that are perhaps rather simple. But it may have been new the time it was written. For example there is this story about "The Lottery Ticket" and the premise and the story itself felt done to death. It was about imagined fortunes and the strife it could bring along with the perceived advantages. The story does end well and there is the moral of false hopes disturbing a simple peace. But it wasn't something new. I am just being picky here though. The story itself is very well written and follows a clean narrative arc - something else that I rather enjoyed about most stories.
Overall a good read and I look forward to more!
One thing that I loved about Chekhov is that as with most old Russian writers I've read, his characters are on-point and the themes are surprisingly universal and still relevant. Each short story brings alive within a short expanse an entire setting and the people populating it. There is also something almost hauntingly sad about most stories. My favourites were perhaps the the eponymous "The Wife" and "A Dreary Story". Both set forth the human condition beautifully and leave a lasting impression. Especially with the latter, the imagery is very replete and the characters are very strong and stay with you. There is a despair to that story that makes it sad to the point of it almost being a horror story.
There are other stories that are perhaps rather simple. But it may have been new the time it was written. For example there is this story about "The Lottery Ticket" and the premise and the story itself felt done to death. It was about imagined fortunes and the strife it could bring along with the perceived advantages. The story does end well and there is the moral of false hopes disturbing a simple peace. But it wasn't something new. I am just being picky here though. The story itself is very well written and follows a clean narrative arc - something else that I rather enjoyed about most stories.
Overall a good read and I look forward to more!
February 17, 2017
The perfection of "The Man in the Case/Gooseberries/About Love" has actively harmed me with its probing, relentless beauty and sadness. This is dumb to write. Everything I have to say is embarrassingly earnest and already well-known. Chekhov is good, I guess, to me.
"Reality irritated him, frightened him, kept him in continual agitation, and, perhaps to justify his timidity, his aversion for the actual, he always praised the past and what had never existed; and even the classical languages which he taught were in reality for him goloshes and umbrellas in which he sheltered himself from real life."
"All sorts of things are done in the provinces through boredom, all sorts of unnecessary and nonsensical things! And that is because what is necessary is not done at all."
“Pavel Konstantinovitch,” he said in an imploring voice, “don’t be calm and contented, don’t let yourself be put to sleep! While you are young, strong, confident, be not weary in well-doing! There is no happiness, and there ought not to be; but if there is a meaning and an object in life, that meaning and object is not our happiness, but something greater and more rational. Do good!”
"Reality irritated him, frightened him, kept him in continual agitation, and, perhaps to justify his timidity, his aversion for the actual, he always praised the past and what had never existed; and even the classical languages which he taught were in reality for him goloshes and umbrellas in which he sheltered himself from real life."
"All sorts of things are done in the provinces through boredom, all sorts of unnecessary and nonsensical things! And that is because what is necessary is not done at all."
“Pavel Konstantinovitch,” he said in an imploring voice, “don’t be calm and contented, don’t let yourself be put to sleep! While you are young, strong, confident, be not weary in well-doing! There is no happiness, and there ought not to be; but if there is a meaning and an object in life, that meaning and object is not our happiness, but something greater and more rational. Do good!”
April 2, 2018
Oh, what characters Chekhov has woven, it's magical! He is truly one of the greatest short story writers.
Chekhov didn't believe in meandering, redundant prose; unlike most other famous writers we have from that time. He didn't have political or social views. He doesn't comment and label based on morals, on acceptable behaviour; although he certainly uses them as elements in his stories... He just plainly tells the stories of characters leading their quiet, sometimes queer life in the Russian countryside; leaving all conclusions up to the reader.
Chekhov didn't believe in meandering, redundant prose; unlike most other famous writers we have from that time. He didn't have political or social views. He doesn't comment and label based on morals, on acceptable behaviour; although he certainly uses them as elements in his stories... He just plainly tells the stories of characters leading their quiet, sometimes queer life in the Russian countryside; leaving all conclusions up to the reader.
January 6, 2018
Great short stories from a hundred or so years ago. My favorite? Hmmm... either 'The Lottery Ticket' (which I'm sure I must have read before, without remembering it), 'Gooseberries', or 'The Wife'. It took me a while to get through these, but I'm glad I read them. I guess I'll have to read more Chekhov.
May 10, 2017
I think I liked "About Love" and the title story the best, but I suspect I may be more of a Bulgakov gal.
May 20, 2017
Loved some of the stories especially The Grasshopper, Gooseberries and About Love. My rating: 3.5
September 5, 2020
slow-going at times but glad to have read it
May 23, 2023
Some stories were better than others. Really liked The Lottery Ticket.
June 10, 2023
It what I expected the stories were without any point on the whole
June 20, 2023
it’s such a quaint collection of stories. the writing style is distinctive and frankly odd at times. but i enjoyed it and will be trying more russian literature
October 9, 2024
Interesting philosophical short stories. The Black Monk and Neighbours were my favourite.
July 11, 2025
“A Dreary Story” might be my new favorite Chekhov work.
April 23, 2017
Nice read
Some of the stories are nice. Simple language. There is a dry humor in the tone. So a nice one time read.
Some of the stories are nice. Simple language. There is a dry humor in the tone. So a nice one time read.
January 28, 2012
I've been slowly working my way through the thirteen volume Tales of Chekhov I exchanged for store credit when I worked as a used bookstore clerk. Some years I read one or two volumes, other years I revisit favorite stories. This is volume 5 and, yet again, I find myself in awe as an aspiring writer and, as a reader, deeply moved by these insightful summations of people in a variety of situations.
A observations about the stories in this volume: the title story (more of a novella, really) is fascinating if only for its choice of perspective -- a first-person narrator who is married to (and estranged from) a remarkable woman but is too self-involved to notice. You have to love a writer who gives a story the title "A Dreary Story" and delivers on the promise of that title without alienating the reader -- on the contrary, this story of an old, terminally ill academic who is slowly detaching from worldly concerns (all of which strike him as predictable and dull) is both funny and heartbreaking. There are also a series of linked stories near the end of the collection, including the justly celebrated "Gooseberries." Before "Gooseberries" comes the wonderful "The Man In A Case" which I had never read or even heard of before. Only "Difficult People" proved a underwhelming. "The Lottery Ticket" may be a bit pat but it is no less true for that.
A observations about the stories in this volume: the title story (more of a novella, really) is fascinating if only for its choice of perspective -- a first-person narrator who is married to (and estranged from) a remarkable woman but is too self-involved to notice. You have to love a writer who gives a story the title "A Dreary Story" and delivers on the promise of that title without alienating the reader -- on the contrary, this story of an old, terminally ill academic who is slowly detaching from worldly concerns (all of which strike him as predictable and dull) is both funny and heartbreaking. There are also a series of linked stories near the end of the collection, including the justly celebrated "Gooseberries." Before "Gooseberries" comes the wonderful "The Man In A Case" which I had never read or even heard of before. Only "Difficult People" proved a underwhelming. "The Lottery Ticket" may be a bit pat but it is no less true for that.
March 7, 2012
Really liked Chekhov's ability to psychologically sketch a character using dialogue. The Wife was the only 'happy'-ish ending though -- in the sense that the protagonist comes to recognise himself and change -- the other stories are without fail depressing.
March 31, 2016
My first ever book by Chekov. The stories are simple and talk about simple people, their struggles and real emotions. There's no lofty ideal and no unnecessary romanticization, just the true feelings and situations of some real people.
May 28, 2016
A book one should read if one wishes to understand the Russian society during the times of Anton Chekov's era.
Don't expect anything special in the stories. Most of it reflects how males ruled roost, possibly still do, in Russia.
Don't expect anything special in the stories. Most of it reflects how males ruled roost, possibly still do, in Russia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews