IT was said that a new person had appeared on the sea-front: a lady with a little dog. 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. Sitting in Verney's pavilion, he saw, walking on the sea-front, a fair-haired young lady of medium height, wearing a _beret_; a white Pomeranian dog was running behind her.And afterwards he met her in the public gardens and in the square several times a...

When Professor Serebrakoff and his younger wife, Helena, return to his rural estate, they find themselves less than welcome. Despite the smiles and formality, there is tension in the air and all roads lead to Helena. A family friend, Dr. Astrov quickly falls in love with her, as does the eponymous uncle. 'Uncle Vanya: Scenes from Country Life' is one of Chekhov's greatest plays, and expertly demonstrates the power of subtext. What most of the characters say in this play, is not necessarily...

FYODOR LUKITCH SYSOEV, the master of the factory school maintained at the expense of the firm of Kulikin, was getting ready for the annual dinner. Every year after the school examination the board of managers gave a dinner at which the inspector of elementary schools, all who had conducted the examinations, and all the managers and foremen of the factory were present. In spite of their official character, these dinners were always good and lively, and the guests sat a long time over them; ...

'Love' begins with the narrator writing a long, poetic and lovelorn letter to the object of his affections, Sasha. It has to be absolutely perfect. However, her reply isn't exactly what he expected. This superbly-observed short story serves as an allegory to the trials and tribulations faced by those falling in love. Wistful, whimsical, and funny, it's an essential read for those who want to find out more about the man behind classic plays, such as 'The Seagull.'

A sombre, grieving monk, ferries a man across the river to visit his local church for the Easter holiday festivities. As they journey towards the celebrations and excitement on the opposite bank, the ferryman recounts the death of his best friend Nikolai.Written by the famous Russian author and playwright, Anton Chekhov, 'Easter Eve' (1886) is an atmospheric tale of friendship and grief. Regarded as one of the greatest writers in the world, Chekhov is famous for his plays, includin...

'A Nightmare' is a short story by Anton Chekhov about two men, one a penniless priest and the other a wealthy aristocrat. The now desperate priest is too proud to ask for assistance, whereas the conniving aristocrat is plotting against him because of his oddball behavior. Where exactly will this dangerous game of cat-and-mouse carry the two?A masterful portrayal of human emotions and the misunderstandings that harbour the potential to wreak havoc upon our lives. Chekhov's story cri...

'Neighbours' is a short drama by Chekhov about Zina, a young woman who leaves her home for a married man. This scandalous behaviour plagues the mind of Zina's brother, Pyotr, who believes that she has been abducted and deceived but is too fearful to help her. As Zina's family is ashamed of her behaviour, Pyotr sets out to bring her home before news of her affair is widely known. Pyotr confronts his sister and her lover but to achieve his goal he must overcome his cowardice. A story that ex...

'Typhus' is a deeply personal short story by Chekhov, about a young man, Klimov, returning home on a train while suffering from a terrible illness. The tale begins with Chekhov's classic dark humour as the protagonist is disgusted with the characters that surround him. The story changes as Chekhov illustrates a slowly creeping illness that engulfs the main character and terrifyingly distorts the world around him. As the nightmarish train moves rapidly along, vivid imagery portrays the horr...

Saveliy is highly suspicious that his wife, Raisa is a witch. She is constantly luring people into their poverty-ridden house, under the pretence of shelter from a storm, in order to seduce them. His suspicions seem to be confirmed as a mailman and his coachman appear at their doorway, unable to contend with the harsh winds outside. Bursting with dialogue, and modelled on the real-life, secluded church that fascinated Chekhov himself, the tale of this sexton and his reluctant wife is widel...

What are you most afraid of? Spiders, ghosts or perhaps the Slender Man? But have you ever been afraid of life itself? 'Terror' tells the story of just that: a man who is afraid of living. His fears range from his office job in St. Petersburg to the mere act of tilling the soil. He is even scared of his lovely wife and children.But the ultimate cause of his fear of day to day life is not what it may seem at first. Chekhov's 'Terror' is a hauntingly realistic novel which leaves no t...

'Beauties' is a short story by Chekhov that tells the tale of a young schoolboy travelling through the countryside with his grandfather on a sweltering summer day. The boy is uninterested in his dreary dustbowl surroundings until they arrive at the house of an old friend and the boy becomes transfixed by an astonishingly beautiful young woman. 'Beauties' is a perfect encapsulation of Chekhov's critically acclaimed writing style as the plot is minimal but his lyrical prose evokes a sense of...

First published in 1887, 'A Bad Business' is a supernatural ghost story from famous Russian author Anton Chekhov. An encounter between a graveyard's night-watchman and a mysterious visitor isn't all that it seems. Who really is this visitor, and what does he hope to find in the graveyard? A chilling and haunting supernatural horror story from the acclaimed author.