Chekhov Shorts: In the Dark

Title: In the Dark Date Read: 11th January 2011 Briefly: After being rudely awakened by her husband's involuntary sneezing, Marya Mihalovna is looking out of the window in the dead of night when she fancies that she sees a burglar sneaking in … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: The Jeune Premier

Title: The Jeune Premier Date Read: 11th January 2011 Briefly: Proud of his ability to connect with the common people, actor Yevgeny Alexeyitch Podzharrov is also boastful of the women he has conquered in the name of love. On this particular day … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: The Dependents

Title: The Dependents Date Read: 23rd November 2010 Briefly: Old, grumpy, poor and lonely, Mihail Petrovitch Zotov has taken to blaming the only two companions close to him - a 'big, mangy, decrepit-looking, white yard-dog' called Lyska, and an … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: Talent

Title: Talent Date Read: 23rd November 2010 Briefly: This story finds artist Yegor Savvitch in despondent and unsettled mood. Having spent the summer in retreat at the house of an officer's widow, he returns the following day to town disappointed … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: The First-Class Passenger

Title: The First-Class Passenger Date Read: 19th October 2010 Briefly: Despite being an accomplished engineer, Krikunov is annoyed with the fact that he has never become a figure of popular fame. During his journey, he bemoans his lot to the poor … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: Martyrs

Title: Martyrs Date Read: 19th October 2010 Briefly: While convalescing, Lizotchka Kudrinsky is so determined to maintain the air and grace of the stoic sufferer that she almost forgets that her health may well be improving. In fact she takes on … [Read more...]

Daily Bookshot: Constance Garnett ‘in the flesh’

Constance Garnett 'in the flesh', originally uploaded by Robert Burdock. I've made no secret on RobAroundBooks of the fact that I'm madly in love with classic translator, Constance Garnett. And that love has only deepened recently, after I … [Read more...]

Reading Journal: Friday 10th September 2010

You know, even though I’ve dived back into full-time lit blogging (and I’ve never been happier having done so) I thought about leaving out this online reading journal feature until I could come up with the ultimate format for it; a format which … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: A Pink Stocking

Title: A Pink Stocking Date Read: 1st June 2010 Briefly: Agitated and at his wits end with almost everything, Pavel Petrovitch Somov demands to see the letter that his wife has been penning for two hours. He is shocked to discover that despite it … [Read more...]

Chekhov Shorts: A Misfortune

Title: A Misfortune Date Read: 1st June 2010 Briefly: Sofya Petrovna the twenty-five-year-old wife of Lubyantsev the notary, has summoned her lover, the lawyer Ilyin, to tell him that for the sake of her marriage the relationship must end. Ilyin … [Read more...]