The Tragic Actor & Other Stories

The short story is often viewed as an inferior relation to the Novel.  But it is an art in itself.  To take a story and distil its essence into fewer pages while keeping character and plot rounded and driven is not an easy task.  Many try and many fail.  


In this series we look at short stories from many of our most accomplished writers.  Miniature masterpieces with a lot to say.  In this volume we examine some of the short stories of Anton Chekhov.


Russian Literature is probably more known for the sheer length, scope and breadth of its novels.  Chekhov was no exception to this with such masterpieces as War And Peace.  But he also wrote such plays such as Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull.  But he also sits atop most literary critics as one of the greatest short story writers ever.  


One of the first to use the stream-of-consciousness technique, later adopted by the modernists, combined with a disavowal of the moral finality of traditional story structure. He made no apologies for the difficulties this posed to readers, insisting that the role of an artist was to ask questions, not to answer them. 


Included in these volumes are notable quotes of Anton Chekhov and a unique and detailed biography.


Some of these stories are also available as an audiobook from our sister company Word Of Mouth.  Many samples are at our youtube channel   HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/user/PortablePoetry?feature=mhee"http://www.youtube.com/user/PortablePoetry?feature=mhee   The full volume can be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and other digital stores.  


Index Of Stories


THE SCHOOLMISTRESS

A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

MISERY

CHAMPAGNE

AFTER THE THEATRE

A LADY’S STORY

IN EXILE

THE CATTLE-DEALERS

SORROW

ON OFFICIAL DUTY

THE FIRST-CLASS PASSENGER

A TRAGIC ACTOR

A TRANSGRESSION

SMALL FRY

THE REQUIEM

IN THE COACH-HOUSE

PANIC FEARS

THE BET

THE HEAD-GARDENER’S STORY

THE BEAUTIES

THE SHOEMAKER AND THE DEVIL

ANTON CHEKHOV – A BIOGRAPHY

GREATEST QUOTES