If she abandoned herself to her feelings she would have to lie, or else to tell the truth, and in her position either would have been equally terrible and inconvenient. They admired it, and at the same time they were sorry that this man with the kind, clever eyes, who had told them this story with such genuine feeling, should be rushing round and round this huge estate like a squirrel on a wheel instead of devoting himself to science or something else which would have made his life more pleasant; and they thought what a sorrowful face Anna Alexyevna must have had when he said good-bye to her in the railway-carriage and kissed her face and shoulders. "And she apparently reasoned in the same way. ", "We Russians of the educated class have a partiality for these questions that remain unanswered. The explanation which would seem to fit one case does not apply in a dozen others, and the very best thing, to my mind, would be to explain every case individually without attempting to generalize. Online library of short stories by Anton Chekhov. There is no middle path. Get started by clicking the "Add" button. She fancied she was not young enough for me, that she was not industrious nor energetic enough to begin a new life, and she often talked to her husband of the importance of my marrying a girl of intelligence and merit who would be a capable housewife and a help to me -- and she would immediately add that it would be difficult to find such a girl in the whole town. When you live here for two or three months without a break, especially in the winter, you begin at last to pine for a black coat. His pursuit of love and romantic adventures with countless women started in his teenage years and a visit to a brothel in his hometown. Anton chekhov I IT was said that a new person had appeared on the sea -front: a lady with a little dog. While Alehin was telling his story, the rain left off and the sun came out. Anton Chekhov. AT lunch next day there were very nice pies, crayfish, and mutton cutlets; and while we were eating, Nikanor, the cook, came up to ask what the visitors would like for dinner. Anna Alexyevna and I used to go to the theatre together, always walking there; we used to sit side by side in the stalls, our shoulders touching. Both of them had met her in the town, and Burkin knew her and thought her beautiful. She feels shocked and refuses. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904), a Russian physician, short-story writer, and playwright, wrote hundreds of stories that delved beneath the surface of Russian society, exposing the hidden motives of his characters and the ways in which prevailing social forces influenced their lives. "The next day I lunched at the Luganovitchs'. This unequivocal verdict on Chekhov's genius has been echoed many times by writers as diverse as Katherine Mansfield, Somerset Maugham, John Cheever and Tobias Wolf. The two of them, husband and wife, would whisper together at the window; then he would come to me and say with a grave face: " 'If you really are in need of money at the moment, Pavel Konstantinovitch, my wife and I beg you not to hesitate to borrow from us.'. His short stories are thought of as some of the best in the world, and for good reason. What it's about: A love triangle where a woman is bought and sold. 'It is Pavel Konstantinovitch,' answered the maid or the nurse. “About Love” (1898) is a famous short story written by Anton Chekhov. Osias Beert, Still Life of a Roast Chicken. ". Would it be honourable? I loved her tenderly, deeply, but I reflected and kept asking myself what our love could lead to if we had not the strength to fight against it. The Short Stories of Anton Chekhov by Anton Chekhov Chekhov's characters are EVERYPERSON. It would have been a different matter if I had had a beautiful, interesting life -- if, for instance, I had been struggling for the emancipation of my country, or had been a celebrated man of science, an artist or a painter; but as it was it would mean taking her from one everyday humdrum life to another as humdrum or perhaps more so. What would happen to her in case I was ill, in case I died, or if we simply grew cold to one another? Short stories Anton Chekhov: a lifetime of lovers Chekhov's love life was complicated and very busy – he had no wish to settle down. I established myself upstairs here in the best rooms, and ordered them to bring me there coffee and liquor after lunch and dinner, and when I went to bed I read every night the Yyesnik Evropi. -- I confessed my love for her, and with a burning pain in my heart I realized how unnecessary, how petty, and how deceptive all that had hindered us from loving was. That was at the beginning of spring. And she was tormented by the question whether her love would bring me happiness -- would she not complicate my life, which, as it was, was hard enough and full of all sorts of trouble? Favorite line from this love story: “Her expression, her gait, her dress, and the way she did her hair told him that she was a lady.". "How love is born," said Alehin, "why Pelagea does not love somebody more like herself in her spiritual and external qualities, and why she fell in love with Nikanor, that ugly snout -- we all call him 'The Snout' -- how far questions of personal happiness are of consequence in love -- all that is known; one can take what view one likes of it. People who lead a solitary existence always have something in their hearts which they are eager to talk about. Ill-tempered, dreary, lazy, lustful, yearning, subservient, shy and his stories never shift his unflinching gaze from the flaws in our characters. She was already being treated for neurasthenia. Whether it is a good thing or not I don't know, but that it is in the way, unsatisfactory, and irritating, I do know.". The man who sees is also married but unlike his next victim, with a history of long being unfaithful in marriage. In About Love by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of connection, honour, loss, letting go, acceptance and love. Read the next short story; A Chameleon. About Love (1898) What it's about: A story-within-a-story, About Love tells the tale of Alehin and the … If you're a person who has wondered which type of relationship is best for you, add this short story to your list of one to read. When they drove out to the villa, and afterwards looked back as they were going away, to look for the last time at the garden, at the green roof, every one was sad, and I realized that I had to say goodbye not only to the villa. My body ached, and I slept as I walked. What it's about: Olga is a devotee of the arts who eventually begins an affair with the fictional artist Ryabovsky, to the detriment of her marriage. Whenever he got drunk she used to hide upstairs and sob, and on such occasions Alehin and the servants stayed in the house to be ready to defend her in case of necessity. ', " 'But you look dispirited today,' she repeated; 'it makes you seem older.'. Luganovitch looked at me and said: " 'Look here, come round to dinner with me.'. The first one describes the love between the two servants whereas the second one describes the love between the landowner and the official's wife. A collection of 17 Chekhov short stories from 1885 to 1902 ; from the 'Huntsman' to 'The Bishop' with the famous trilogy; 'The Man in a Case' 'Gooseberries' and 'About Love' in between ! Nikanor is a cook and Pelageya is the servant in … William Boyd believes one short story … And it would happen that, after whispering in the same way at the window, he would come up to me, with red ears, and say: " 'My wife and I earnestly beg you to accept this present.'. His arm was round her waist, her head was almost on his shoulder, and both were happy. Anton Chekhov is widely considered one of the best short-story writers of all time. Anna Alexyevna already had two children. Includes summaries, biography, links and analysis. Incredible guilt and remorse make up the core of A Living Chattel, as the actions of Liza, her husband, and her lover come full circle. It all happened just after a celebrated case of incendiarism; the preliminary investigation lasted two days; we were exhausted. At dinner I was very much excited, I was uncomfortable, and I don't know what I said, but Anna Alexyevna kept shaking her head and saying to her husband: "Luganovitch is a good-natured man, one of those simple-hearted people who firmly maintain the opinion that once a man is charged before a court he is guilty, and to express doubt of the correctness of a sentence cannot be done except in legal form on paper, and not at dinner and in private conversation. " … As he drank and was of a violent character, she did not want to marry him, but was willing to live with him without. © 2021 by Tango Media Corporation All Rights Reserved. I did not leave a clod of earth unturned; I gathered together all the peasants, men and women, from the neighbouring villages; the work went on at a tremendous pace. "After that I spent the whole summer at Sofino without a break, and I had no time to think of the town, either, but the memory of the graceful fair-haired woman remained in my mind all those days; I did not think of her, but it was as though her light shadow were lying on my heart. I went into the governor's box (I was invited to go there in the interval); I looked, and there was Anna Alexyevna sitting beside the governor's wife; and again the same irresistible, thrilling impression of beauty and sweet, caressing eyes, and again the same feeling of nearness. Who knows. One couple carries out the dance of love with calm, quiet, and controlled romance coming out with the image of stability but unexpressed love. The ‘darling’ in the title of this story refers to the main heroine, Olenka, a loyal wife who … 354. "In the first years I was elected here an honourary justice of the peace. The time of parting came, as Luganovitch was appointed president in one of the western provinces. In this exclusive collection, Audible presents six of his most-celebrated short stories, chosen and performed by Richard Armitage. In the spring, when you came to dinner, you were younger, more confident. So far only one incontestable truth has been uttered about love: 'This is a great mystery.' For the person who refuses to share with someone else, you'll love this short story and all it has to offer about loyalty and trust. Little by little I moved downstairs, began dining in the servants' kitchen, and of my former luxury nothing is left but the servants who were in my father's service, and whom it would be painful to turn away. Love is usually poeticized, decorated with roses, nightingales; we Russians decorate our loves with these momentous questions, and select the most uninteresting of them, too. I would hear from a faraway room, in the drawling voice that seemed to me so lovely. " I made up my mind to this and set to work, not, I must confess, without some repugnance. In town bachelors visit the baths and the restaurants on purpose to talk, and sometimes tell the most interesting things to bath attendants and waiters; in the country, as a rule, they unbosom themselves to their guests. I made friends eagerly. In the same way, when we are in love we are never tired of asking ourselves questions: whether it is honourable or dishonourable, sensible or stupid, what this love is leading up to, and so on. About Love: The Short stories by Anton Chekhov audiobook written by Anton Chekhov. "Meanwhile the years were passing. It was arranged that at the end of August we should see Anna Alexyevna off to the Crimea, where the doctors were sending her, and that a little later Luganovitch and the children would set off for the western province. What it's about: A story-within-a-story, About Love tells the tale of Alehin and the chance at love he missed, despite knowing for years that his beloved loved him, too. They both, by the way, had considerable means of their own. . Between 1888 and his death he single-handedly revolutionized both the drama and the short story. ', " 'You look dispirited. Raymond Carver called Anton Chekhov the greatest short story writer who has ever lived. I hope you will, I know I have loved reading Chekhov, especially these unique romantic love stories. About Love by Anton Chekhov: Analysis In the story 'About Love' Chekhov shows the contrast between the two love stories of Nikanor and Pelageya and Alyohin and Anna Alexeyevna. For some reason you often came back to my memory during the summer, and when I was getting ready for the theatre today I thought I should see you. The Beggar by Anton Chekhov. "This was unexpected, as I knew Luganovitch very little, only officially, and I had never been to his house. I understood that when you love you must either, in your reasonings about that love, start from what is highest, from what is more important than happiness or unhappiness, sin or virtue in their accepted meaning, or you must not reason at all. About Love is featured in our collection of Foodie Stories, Return to the Anton Chekhov Home Page, or . Every one looked on me as a noble being. "There is a proverb that if a peasant woman has no troubles she will buy a pig. In early days I often borrowed money, and was not very particular about it -- borrowed wherever I could -- but nothing in the world would have induced me to borrow from the Luganovitchs. It is the last story of Chekhov’s Little Trilogy. He was a man of medium height, with a puffy face and little eyes; he was close-shaven, and it looked as though his moustaches had not been shaved, but had been pulled out by the roots. But in those days I did not go into such subtleties. Favorite line from this love story: "I love you, and a man in love is not fond of sharing.". It seemed to be incredible that my gentle, sad love could all at once coarsely break up the even tenor of the life of her husband, her children, and all the household in which I was so loved and trusted. They fancied that I was unhappy, and that I only talked, laughed, and ate to conceal my sufferings, and even at cheerful moments when I felt happy I was aware of their searching eyes fixed upon me. They had to sell their furniture, their horses, their summer villa. Taken from his Complete Short Stories collection the story for the main is narrated in the first person by a man called Pavel and after reading the story the reader realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of connection. "We were a great crowd to see Anna Alexyevna off. The reader senses the violation of their unspoken agreement because Liza feels betrayed by Michael's request. Kristen Droesch is a writer, content strategist and editor who has a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute. His father, Pavel, was a grocer with frequent money troubles; his mother, Yevgeniya, shared her love of … Perhaps Chekhov's own love affairs and experiences with an unhappy marriage gave him the edge to write this short story. by Anton Chekhov. We talked together for hours, were silent, thinking each our own thoughts, or she played for hours to me on the piano. "In the late autumn there was a theatrical performance for some charitable object in the town. . My thoughts: Curious about the love lives of the rich and famous? These dramatic adaptations are from one of our favorite playwrights, Miles Malleson, author of Mint productions, Conflict and Yours Unfaithfully, both New York Times Critic’s Picks. 'Who is there?' You were full of eagerness, and talked a great deal then; you were very interesting, and I really must confess I was a little carried away by you. Chekhov describes here what appears to the public eye the vision of a confident, secure, married woman. This short story centers around what today would be called a "gold digger" who uses her husband's money and how her bitter attitude leads her astray. My thoughts: In this short story, a Chekhov reveals his extraordinary insight into the mind of a married woman, and how a man can take advantage of her unhappiness in marriage. Alehin told us that the beautiful Pelagea was in love with this cook. If I did not come to the town I must be ill or something must have happened to me, and both of them were extremely anxious. "And he would blush to his ears with emotion. Get instant access to all your favorite books. User-friendly layout, fully searchable. And in the circuit court there were frock-coats, and uniforms, and dress-coats, too, all lawyers, men who have received a general education; I had some one to talk to. Has anything happened?'. When I arrived at the Luganovitchs' the servants smiled cordially, the children shouted that Uncle Pavel Konstantinovitch had come, and hung on my neck; every one was overjoyed. The land here does not yield much, and if one is not to farm at a loss one must employ serf labour or hired labourers, which is almost the same thing, or put it on a peasant footing -- that is, work the fields oneself and with one's family. The story follows the life of a woman who is referred to by others as "darling" for her generosity and submissive nature. But why talk of it? It looked as though he wanted to tell some story. She thought of her husband, her children, and of her mother, who loved the husband like a son. He wrote the story in June and July 1898, while staying at his country house in Melikhovo. After lunch they drove out to their summer villa, in order to make arrangements there for the winter, and I went with them. But one day our priest, Father Ivan, came and drank up all my liquor at one sitting; and the Yyesnik Evropi went to the priest's daughters; as in the summer, especially at the haymaking, I did not succeed in getting to my bed at all, and slept in the sledge in the barn, or somewhere in the forester's lodge, what chance was there of reading? She doesn't know what she has until it's too late, and will be haunted by the realization of what she has lost forever. "And he would give me studs, a cigar-case, or a lamp, and I would send them game, butter, and flowers from the country. July 12, 2013. "And when I went to the town I saw every time from her eyes that she was expecting me, and she would confess to me herself that she had had a peculiar feeling all that day and had guessed that I should come. Similar to his other short stories, Chekhov shows how forbidden romances, especially extramarital affairs can provide for some sticky scenarios that lead to a break down of trust. What it's about: Widely considered Chekhov’s best short story, The Lady with the Dog explores what happens to two people who fall truly in love for the first time, despite being married to others. Chekhov/Tolstoy: Love Stories. Where could I take her? When she had said good-bye to her husband and her children and there was only a minute left before the third bell, I ran into her compartment to put a basket, which she had almost forgotten, on the rack, and I had to say good-bye. Love had suffered for humanity from the garden of Gethsemane to the Cross and that is what he celebrates here through this very intensely Christian short story. . They were worried that I, an educated man with a knowledge of languages, should, instead of devoting myself to science or literary work, live in the country, rush round like a squirrel in a rage, work hard with never a penny to show for it. They did not understand what was passing in my soul, and thought that I, too, was happy. Kissing her face, her shoulders, her hands wet with tears -- oh, how unhappy we were! I am an idle gentleman by education, a studious person by disposition; but there was a big debt owing on the estate when I came here, and as my father was in debt partly because he had spent so much on my education, I resolved not to go away, but to work till I paid off the debt. They share the theme of missed opportunity. "The Darling" (Russian: Душечка, romanized: Dushechka) is a short story by Russian author Anton Chekhov, first published in the No.1, 1899, issue of Semya (Family) magazine, on January 3, in Moscow. Yes, we shall live, Uncle Vanya. While his popularity as a playwright has sometimes overshadowed his achievements in prose, the importance of Chekhov's stories … "I kept trying to understand why she had met him first and not me, and why such a terrible mistake in our lives need have happened." And here it was my lot to meet Anna Alexyevna, Luganovitch's wife. I returned with them to the town, and at midnight drank tea with them in quiet domestic surroundings, while the fire glowed, and the young mother kept going to see if her baby girl was asleep. Then I walked home to Sofino. Although he married in 1893, he continued his quest for love, passion, and romance. We ought, as the doctors say, to individualize each case. Narrated by John Brown. My thoughts: Carrying along the same theme of marital affairs, This line is uttered when Liza is confronted by her lover that he wants her to tell her husband about their affair. If I dropped anything, she would say coldly: "If I forgot to take the opera-glass when we were going to the theatre, she would say afterwards: "Luckily or unluckily, there is nothing in our lives that does not end sooner or later. At that time she was still very young, not more than twenty-two, and her first baby had been born just six months before. Love is truth and beauty, according to Chekhov. I saw a lovely young, good, intelligent, fascinating woman, such as I had never met before; and I felt her at once some one close and already familiar, as though that face, those cordial, intelligent eyes, I had seen somewhere in my childhood, in the album which lay on my mother's chest of drawers. Perhaps Chekhov wrote this short story after he experienced a taste of bad romance? Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov, who had by then been a fortnight at Yalta, and so was fairly at home there, had begun to take an interest in new arrivals. "I was unhappy. “About Love” is the third and final story in Anton Chekhov ’s Little Trilogy, the only linked collection in his considerable catalogue of short stories. Listen online or offline with Android, iOS, web, Chromecast, and Google Assistant. There's little to add to the praise given to Chekhov over the last century or so re how good a short story writer he is (and that Rosamund Bartlett's translation brings them out in full) but I'll do it anyway! It was supposed to be sent to Russkaya Mysl for this magazine's August issue along with "Gooseberries", and in the notebooks the two plotlines are often intertwined. It starts with two unmatched love stories of Nikanor and Pelageya and of Alyohin and a Moscow girl. He was very devout, and his religious convictions would not allow him to "live in sin"; he insisted on her marrying him, and would consent to nothing else, and when he was drunk he used to abuse her and even beat her. . Tag: anton chekhov. "Anna Alexyevna would come out to me with an anxious face, and would ask every time: " 'Why is it so long since you have been? It is all a thing of the past; and now I should find it difficult to define what there was so exceptional in her, what it was in her attracted me so much; at the time, at dinner, it was all perfectly clear to me. Though we may never know whether his experiences made their way into his writing, the stories are evocative and powerful. About Anton Chekhov: One of Russia's greatest writers, Chekhov began his career writing jokes and anecdotes for popular magazines to support himself while he studied to become a doctor. Favorite line from this love story: "So far only one incontestable truth has been uttered about love: ‘This is a great mystery.’". The story emphasizes a love triangle and it is one of the best examples of telling a man’s hopeless love. And of all my acquaintanceships the most intimate and, to tell the truth, the most agreeable to me was my acquaintance with Luganovitch, the vice-president of the circuit court.

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