Stories of Anton Chekhov (Illustrated)

Wonderful writer, wonderful stories!

I am a little hesitant to admit that I am new to the works of Anton Chekhov. I consider myself a well read person but for some reason Chekhov had never come into my reading orbit. That is until now, and boy am I dissapointed that I haven't found him sooner. I love the great Russian writers. I've read and fell in love with Tolstoy, consider Dostoevsky to be one of my favorite writers, and have recently got into Gogol. The stories of Anton Chekhov are for me some of the best short stories I've ever read. Prior to reading Chekhov, Flannery O'Connor was my go to gal for short stories. Chekhov however crafts sentences so beautifully, and describes things so wonderfully that it truly is astonishing the amount of power he can pack inside his stories in so short a time. Some of my favorites were "The Huntsman", "a Boring Story" and "The Death of a Clerk.". Not only are these stories varied, but they deal with many different aspects and people that you encounter through life. Whether they be priests, children, woman, the poor, or even the well to do. From the first few sentences Chekhov casts a spell that is only broken once the story ends. Even then the story lingers in your mind as you contemplate the excuisite mastery of the language as well as the thought provoking issues nestled beneath. After reading these stories it left me wanting more. I hope to go on and read some of his short novels and plays, but for now I can't recommend enough the the stories of Anton Chekhov!

One of the best things about Chekov is his subtle sense of humor. In my experience, Russian writers of his time, although of course great as well, can be kind of depressing, overall. Which can be an accurate view of the world they are depicting. But Chekov adds touches of uplifting humanity and sense of humor about things, which to me puts him a notch above.

What I love about Chekhov is his sparse language and his ability to paint a full picture of someone’s life in so few words. Each word matters, and he often will choose words for a dual purpose, like the use of the word “stranger” in “The Huntsman.” It can literally be someone who is unknown to you or someone you haven’t seen in a long time and you feel that they have become a stranger. I found this translation very readable and the stories relatable even today — these stories were written in the late 1800s.Selected Stories of Anton Chekhov translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky will keep readers on their toes, as some situations can be a bit odd. However, the concepts of lost love, jobs that are unsatisfying, and husbands who become strangers to their wives are issues that persist even today.

I wonder what he would think about people leaving Amazon reviews of his stories? In any case, they are terrific. Translation has always been an issue with these, but as I find fault with most of them, I'm not picky about any particular one. I just love Chekhov. Get this and keep it handy on your nightstand.

I saw 2 of Chekhov's plays in college and I honestly don't remember them. Glenn Close appeared in one I remember, but beyond that I was obviously distracted. Nothing could have prepared me for the perfection of these stories. I have never read a collection that had such an impact. Chekhov's clear-eyed world view peers at tiny physical details in the lives of the characters to see into their souls. They are tragic heroes in common clothes.Chekhov looks on without judgment. His attitude is humane and liberal. No matter how foolish his subjects, his attitude is never condescending.I hadn't realized it until I finished Pevear's forward, but Chekhov begins to slip subtly into stream of consciousness in several stories. This and many other innovations make Chekhov a pivotal figure in fiction writing. He is certainly under appreciated at present.(I can't compare it, of course, but the P&V translation is another gift.)