The Unforgettable Magic: Delving into Seven Great Russian Stories by Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov, the formidable Russian playwright and author, left an indelible mark on the literary world with his impeccable storytelling prowess. In this article, we explore seven of his greatest Russian stories that continue to captivate readers from all walks of life.

1. The Lady with the Dog: A Tale of Forbidden Love

The Lady with the Dog transports readers to Yalta, where a reserved banker named Dmitry Dmitryitch Gurov embarks on an affair with a young woman named Anna Sergeyevna. This captivating tale explores the complexities of love, marriage, and societal norms with Chekhov's signature realism and emotional depth.

Seven Great Russian Stories

by Anton Chekhov (Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	543 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	160 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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2. The Cherry Orchard: Nostalgia and Farewell

The Cherry Orchard is a timeless masterpiece that depicts the struggle of an aristocratic family faced with the impending sale of their cherished estate. Through this poignant and witty play, Chekhov delves into themes of change, loss, and the clash between tradition and progress.

3. Ward No. 6: Madness and Human Nature

Ward No. 6 plunges readers into the grim reality of a mental institution where the line between sanity and insanity blurs. Dr. Andrei Ragin, the protagonist, becomes entangled in a web of insanity that challenges his own perception of reality. Chekhov's exploration of the human psyche in this story is both gripping and thought-provoking.

4. The Steppe: Journey through the Russian Countryside

In The Steppe, Chekhov paints a vivid portrait of the vast Russian countryside and its impact on its inhabitants. Through the eyes of a young boy named Yegorushka, readers experience the beauty, challenges, and mysticism of rural life. This story beautifully captures the essence of Russian landscape and culture.

5. Uncle Vanya: A Tale of Discontent

Uncle Vanya delves into the theme of discontentment among a group of characters living on a provincial estate. Chekhov masterfully weaves together their desires, regrets, and unfulfilled dreams, creating a powerful exploration of the human condition. This play showcases Chekhov's ability to generate empathy and reveal the complexities of human emotions.

6. The Darling: Love, Identity, and Loss

The Darling tells the story of a woman named Olenka who repeatedly adapts her identity to match the desires of the men in her life. Through her various relationships, Chekhov reflects on the themes of love, possessiveness, and the search for meaning. This poignant story leaves readers pondering the nature of identity and the sacrifices one makes in the pursuit of acceptance.

7. Gooseberries: Dreams and Realities

Gooseberries explores the concept of happiness through the eyes of a man named Ivan Ivanovich. He believes that true happiness can only be found once one achieves their dreams. As the story unfolds, Chekhov reveals the perpetual cycle of longing and the fleeting nature of contentment. This introspective tale forces readers to question their own definition of happiness.

: Anton Chekhov's Timeless Legacy

Anton Chekhov's stories continue to resonate with readers around the globe due to their rich characterizations, insightful commentaries, and psychological depth. The seven stories discussed in this article merely scratch the surface of his vast literary contributions. Whether exploring love, loss, or the complexities of human nature, Chekhov's works showcase his masterful ability to capture the essence of the human condition.

Seven Great Russian Stories

by Anton Chekhov (Kindle Edition)

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	543 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	160 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

The hero of my tale, whom I love with all the power of my soul, whom I tried to portray in all his beauty, who has been, is, and will be beautiful, is Truth.
–
Leo Tolstoy

This little book provides the perfect foundation not just for savoring the riches of Russian literature, but for understanding the art and craft of storytelling.

In his 2021 masterwork on storytelling and writing A Swim in the Pond and the Rain, George Saunders uses seven works to explore what he calls “the physics of the form.”

And now you can read these seven classic stories in this book.

Saunders—himself an eminent man of letters, the author of Lincoln in the Bardo and Tenth of December, among other works—teaches writing at Syracuse University.

Like all great teachers, he gives studies the very best practitioners. He challenges himself and his students to drink deeply of these works to explore what the authors do and how they do it.

• What kinds of people inhabit these stories? What do they want?

• What does society want?

• How can actions—small actions, big actions—show the characters pursuing or avoiding their goals?

• How does a writer construct stories? Where do they begin and end? What kinds of steps get the reader from here to there?

• How does a writer construct stories? Where do they begin and end? What kinds of steps get the reader from here to there?

• How does language convey the world of the story?

• What kinds of details help us feel the emotions and the energy, the ideas and the struggles, of the story?

• What kinds of details help us feel the emotions and the energy, the ideas and the struggles, of the story?

• When do these stories merge into poetry? What is the structure of that poetry?

Among the works his students reads are:

• Anton Chekhov’s “The Cart, “The Darling,” and “Gooseberries


• Ivan Turgenev’s “The Singers”

• Leo Tolstoy’s “Master and Man” and “Alyosha the Pot”

• Nikolai Gogol’s “The Nose”


Those are the works that Saunders explores in A Swim in the Pond and the Rain.

They are presented here. Thanks to their expired copyrights, we offer them at little more than the cost of reproduction.

If you want to master the great arts of storytelling and writing, you can have no better guide than George Saunders—and his four Russian masters.

Get A Swim in the Pond and the Rain. Read these stories and then turn to Saunders’s masterful reading of these stories and immerse yourself in his brilliant breakdowns of art and science of writing.

You are in for a treat. Two treats, actually: the Russian masters and the American teacher.