Plays by Anton Chekhov, Second Series

Anton Chekhov is one of the most beloved playwrights in world literature, and this collection brings together some of his finest dramatic works in a clear early twentieth-century English translation. Here you will find the one-act comedies The Proposal, The Bear, The Wedding, and others, alongside the full-length plays The Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard. Together they show Chekhov's unique ability to blend humour and heartbreak, capturing the ordinary moments that reveal who we really are.

These plays are about people who dream of a better life, who love and quarrel, who face change and loss. Whether it is the three sisters longing for Moscow or the family in The Cherry Orchard watching their estate slip away, Chekhov treats his characters with compassion and irony. Readers who enjoy subtle characterisation, lively dialogue, and stories that stay with you will find much to admire. Students of drama and theatre will also appreciate the range of styles, from farce to tragedy.

This edition contains the complete text of the plays, a new introduction for first-time readers, a character guide, a summary of the plots, notes on major themes, a glossary of period words and phrases, and discussion questions for book clubs and classrooms. It is designed to help you get the most out of these enduring works.