The Essential Chekhov: Plays, Short Stories, Novel & Biography

This unique collection of Anton Chekhov's greatest works has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards.

Excerpt:

"In each one of us there are too many springs, too many wheels and cogs for us to judge each other by first impressions or by two or three external indications." Ivanoff, Act 3 (1887)

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian physician, dramaturge and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. Chekhov practised as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. Chekhov had at first written stories only for financial gain, but as his artistic ambition grew, he made formal innovations which have influenced the evolution of the modern short story. 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.

Contents:

Novel:

The Shooting Party

Plays:

On the High Road

Swan Song

Ivanoff

The Anniversary

The Proposal

The Wedding

The Bear

The Seagull

A Reluctant Hero

Uncle Vanya

The Three Sisters

The Cherry Orchard

Short Stories:

The Safety Match

The Boys

Grisha

A Trifle from Real Life

The Cook's Wedding

Shrove Tuesday

In Passion Week

An Incident

A Matter of Classics

The Tutor

Out of Sorts

A Joke

After the Theatre

Volodia

A Naughty Boy

Bliss

Two Beautiful Girls

The Chorus Girl

The Father of a Family

The Orator

Ionitch

At Christmas Time

In the Coach House

Lady N—'s Story

A Journey By Cart

The Privy Councillor

Rothschild's Fiddle

A Horsey Name

The Pecheneg

The Bishop

The Slanderer

The Kiss

Verotchka

On Trial

The Mass for the Dead

The Privy Councillor

The Runaway

The Reed

La Cigale

The Head Gardener's Tale

Oysters

Women

Woe

Zinotchka

The Princess

The Muzhiks

The Darling