Title: The Swedish Match
Date Read: 22 October 2008
Word Count: 7529
Briefly: Crime busting duo Tchubikov and Dyukovsky set out to investigate the apparent murder of Mark Ivanovitch Klyauzov, a retired cornet of the guards. Just who is responsible for the murder, and where exactly is the body of Ivanovitch? A single spent match, of Swedish origin, may just hold the key to solving this crime.
Afterthoughts: This is one of the longer short stories of Chekhov but it’s an entertaining one. There’s a nice twist at the end so it’s worth sticking with it, but I don’t think that’s a difficult thing to do. Due to it’s length there is a sizable cast milling around in this tale, so it does require a bit of back-tracking to keep up with who’s who (or you could do what I do and note down each character and who they are, as you go along).
Notable Quote: “Tchubikov, his assistant, and the police superintendent opened the door and hesitatingly, one after the other, walked into the room. The following spectacle met their eyes. In the solitary window stood a big wooden bedstead with an immense feather bed on it. On the rumpled feather bed lay a creased and crumpled quilt. A pillow, in a cotton pillow case — also much creased, was on the floor. On a little table beside the bed lay a silver watch, and silver coins to the value of twenty kopecks. Some sulphur matches lay there too. Except the bed, the table, and a solitary chair, there was no furniture in the room. Looking under the bed, the superintendent saw two dozen empty bottles, an old straw hat, and a jar of vodka. Under the table lay one boot, covered with dust. Taking a look round the room, Tchubikov frowned and flushed crimson.”
Rating: 
*Story read as part of my Checking Off The Chekhov Shorts reading challenge.
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