Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

At only about 72 pages long, enjoy Ward No. 6 by Anton Chekhov, a Russian classic that can possibly be read in only one sitting!

All the story takes place in an old, dark, dusty sanatorium in a small town. Different people who suffers from different mental problems which are considered mad in society. It analyzes what goes under their surface and what made them the way they are.

Although I read this about a year or so ago, I may read the book
Ward No. 6 and Other Stories, 1892-1895.

One of my favourite authors (of so many), Chekhov can invoke sights and sounds and feelings with his words in such a breathtaking way that I feel as if I am in the shoes of the protagonist. It is I who feels the leaves crunching underfoot, I who am taken with the beauty of the lady with the little dog, *sigh* pure magic.

Feel free to read beyond the title story that we're focusing on, Jazzy.

I read just the single story. It was quite clever, but I thought it was a very sad story.

Chekhov was a medical doctor so when he got tuberculosis he knew the probable outcome.
He had a very interesting life and even travelled to Siberia. He spent his last years on the Black Sea

A few years I stood on the edge of the black sea and thought of all those poetic souls who looked out on it before me. I have a special place in my heart for Chekhov.

Rosemarie wrote: "Chekhov was a medical doctor so when he got tuberculosis he knew the probable outcome.
He had a very interesting life and even travelled to Siberia. He spent his last years on the Black Sea"

Thank you, Rosemarie - it’s good to learn some background information.

I highly recommend A Life in Letters by Anton Chekhov. It is my favourite of all his works. You discover that he is nothing like most of the characters he created-in a good way!

Rosemarie wrote: "I highly recommend A Life in Letters by Anton Chekhov. It is my favourite of all his works. You discover that he is nothing like most of the characters he created-in ..."

I've got a very nice folio edition of that book :)

So many authors, especially classic ones, lead very colorful lives. I suppose that’s where much of their great material comes from.

I finished this book last night. I have long been acquainted with mental illness and that hammer hit home.

Rosemarie wrote: "I highly recommend A Life in Letters by Anton Chekhov. It is my favourite of all his works. You discover that he is nothing like most of the characters he created-in ..."

Thank you for the advice, Rosemarie. I just looked at previews of some of his letters & they look fascinating. Another addition to my wish list for the moment!

What a sad story. This was the first story from a collection of short stories on audiobook and it is so sad to think that these people were just cast out of society. It's interesting to know that Chekhov was a doctor, I wonder how much of the story is based on events he actually witnessed.
I plan to listen to the rest of the collection now, this was my first introduction to Chekhov and I'll definitely read more.