Forty StoriesIf any writer can be said to have invented the modern short story, it is Anton Chekhov. It is not just that Chekhov democratized this art form; more than that, he changed the thrust of short fiction from relating to revealing. And what marvelous and unbearable things are revealed in these Forty Stories. The abashed happiness of a woman in the presence of the husband who abandoned her years before. The obsequious terror of the official who accidentally sneezes on a general. The poignant astonishment of an aging Don Juan overtaken by love. Spanning the entirety of Chekhov's career and including such masterpieces as "Surgery," "The Huntsman," "Anyuta," "Sleepyhead," "The Lady With the Pet Dog," and "The Bishop," this collection manages to be amusing, dazzling, and supremely moving—often within a single page. |
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... he's tippling in the pothouse....” The boy jumped up, sprang into the air, plucked a single apple from the tree, and handed it to the girl. But like Adam and Eve in ancient days, the boy and girl suffered disastrously with their apple ...
... he's tippling in the pothouse....” The boy jumped up, sprang into the air, plucked a single apple from the tree, and handed it to the girl. But like Adam and Eve in ancient days, the boy and girl suffered disastrously with their apple ...
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... He's too much of a silly fool to tell us a story!” “Shut up, Karpushka. He has to tell us a story first. Now, my boy, do as you are told!” “I don't know any stories.” “What do you mean—you don't know any stories! You know how to steal ...
... He's too much of a silly fool to tell us a story!” “Shut up, Karpushka. He has to tell us a story first. Now, my boy, do as you are told!” “I don't know any stories.” “What do you mean—you don't know any stories! You know how to steal ...
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... He's a fool, and has to be taught a lesson! Give him a beating, my dear. You don't want to? Then I'll have to order Karpushka and Matvey to give you a taste of the nettles.... You still don't want to?” “No, I don't!” “Karpushka, come ...
... He's a fool, and has to be taught a lesson! Give him a beating, my dear. You don't want to? Then I'll have to order Karpushka and Matvey to give you a taste of the nettles.... You still don't want to?” “No, I don't!” “Karpushka, come ...
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... he's a better shot than I am?” “He's right, gentlemen,” said the doctor. “I don't know how to shoot. I don't know how to handle a gun. I can't stand shooting!... I don't know why you take me with you. The hell with it! Let him take my ...
... he's a better shot than I am?” “He's right, gentlemen,” said the doctor. “I don't know how to shoot. I don't know how to handle a gun. I can't stand shooting!... I don't know why you take me with you. The hell with it! Let him take my ...
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... He's jealous of you, Doctor! Don't go, dear fellow. Don't go, in spite of him! Lord God, he's jealous, that's what it is!” Yegor Yegorich turned a thick scarlet and clenched his fists. “Hey, you!” voices shouted from the other carriage ...
... He's jealous of you, Doctor! Don't go, dear fellow. Don't go, in spite of him! Lord God, he's jealous, that's what it is!” Yegor Yegorich turned a thick scarlet and clenched his fists. “Hey, you!” voices shouted from the other carriage ...
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already asked beautiful began Bishop body brother called carriage Chekhov church cold coming dark dead dear doctor don’t drink everything expression eyes face fall father feeling fell felt followed garden gave gazed give green hands happened happy head heard horses husband It’s keep knew later laughed leave letter light listen live longer looked married morning mother Nadya never night officer Olya once passed peasants playing Princess remembered round seemed shoulders shouted side silence sitting sleep smile someone soon sound standing stay stood story suddenly talking tears tell there’s things thought told took town turned understand village voice waiting walked wandered whole wife window woman women write Yegor Yegorich young