Stories of Anton Chekhov (Illustrated)

Hes the best

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!

Chekhov is one of literature's finest writers, and this collection of short stories doesn't disappoint. I like some stories better than others, but of those I liked very much, this stood out: Chekhov was very clearly ahead of his time as a writer, to the point that his plots, sensibilities and expressions could have been written this year, as well as in the 1880s-1890s. One aspect of his writing I loved especially is his ability to write summary, yet penetrating, descriptions of his characters, often in just a few words or sentence fragments. Checkhov could capture a character's essence in a few well-chosen words that are among the best I can recall reading. Also worth a mention is that the translators for this book are superb. I believe they have captured Chekhov with uncanny accuracy.

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.

Wonderful writer, wonderful stories!

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.)

This is a compilation of short stories, mostly on the subject of death and disillusionment. Chekhov’s characters are average academics or commonplace countryfolk, generally tragic and apathetic persons battling their own obscurity and the gradual narrowing of options as one grows older - old age, depression, declining health, loss of love, loss of loved ones, etc. In this way the appeal of his writing is universal. The stories themselves richly describe the lives of ordinary Russians in the late 1800’s. They are portraits and mini-plots plucked out of space and time that resonate with age-old human problems. They grip you with the narrative of real people as they experience life, often in the stream of consciousness style. He peers into the minds of people that lived 120 years ago. His characterization is so vital, one almost feels these personalities sitting alive in the room. It is these snapshots into the thought life, the manner of speaking of people long ago, that pulls you in. The translation is very good. I found the language simple, direct and engaging. Be aware however that some of the tales initially come across as meaningless and pointless. They go nowhere, are instantly forgettable. I would say a full half of the stories are dull in this way: there is even one titled “A boring story”. Chekhov’s writing often seems to be a long and constant wrestle with Christianity. Almost every story vibrates with religious echoes. His apparent questioning and criticism of the church is typical of late 19th century European literature. Stalin used to enjoy reading Chekhov, and his writings were used to help justify communism and the persecution of the church. One should be reminded that millions of Christians were dispossessed and killed under Communism as “undesirables”. Academics have argued however that it is unclear which side of the fence he was on. Certainly at times it is hard to pin down whether he is attacking orthodoxy or merely turning it over in his mind, but there are moments when the author subtly yet unmistakably upholds the authority of the bible as regards the nature of life and eternity.

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.