Anton Chekhov is best known as a playwright, the author of such classics as Uncle Vanya, The Cherry Orchard, and Three Sisters, but he was also an accomplished short-story writer. The Essential Tales of Chekhov does not pretend to be a comprehensive collection of all his fiction, but it does lay claim to be the best. Reading these stories, one immediately notices how modern they feel. As Richard Ford writes in his introduction, "His meticulous anatomies of complicated human impulse and response, his view of what's funny and poignant, his clear-eyed observance of life as lived--all somehow matches our experience." Chekhov is a master of the telling detail, the acute psychological insight. In "After the Theatre" he captures perfectly the morbid, romantic imagination of a 16-year-old girl: "To be unloved and unhappy--how interesting that was." In "An Anonymous Story" he quickly limns the sum of one of his characters in a single image: "He was a man with the manners of a lizard. He did not walk, but, as it were, crept along with tiny steps, squirming and sniggering, and when he laughed he showed his teeth." We will see much more of this character, but we've already learned everything essential about him.

No two Chekhov stories are alike, but they do share some common traits: though often somber, they are seldom despairing and even his most serious work is leavened by his trademark wit. Only 20 of the more than 220 tales that he wrote are included in this collection, but they provide an excellent introduction to those who have not yet had the pleasure of reading him. And for those who know and love Chekhov, The Essential Tales of Chekhov is a loving reminder of why. --Alix Wilber


From Library Journal
Chekhov has influenced generations of fiction writers, including Ford, the editor of this splendid new collection. In his excellent introduction, Ford explores those aspects of Chekhov's writing that have contributed to the author's stature: his economic mastery in opening and closing stories, his ability to elevate everyday life through the perceptive beauty of his language, and his skillful portrayal of the moral dilemmas everyone must face. Chekhov wrote more than 200 stories; the 20 gathered here include some that have been routinely included in other anthologies, such as the melancholy tale of adultery "The Lady with the Dog," and lesser-known gems such as "The Blunder," a humorous account of overly eager parents who botch a scheme to ensnare their daughter's unsuspecting suitor. Ford's subjective criteria have resulted in a wide-ranging taste of Chekhov's genius. Highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.?Sister M. Anna Falbo, Villa Maria Coll. Lib., Buffalo, NYCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description

Of the two hundred stories that Anton Chekhov wrote, the twenty stories that appear in this extraordinary collection were personally chosen by Richard Ford--an accomplished storyteller in his own right. Included are the familiar masterpieces--"The Kiss," "The Darling," and "The Lady with the Dog"--as well as several brilliant lesser-known tales such as "A Blunder," "Hush!," and "Champagne." These stories, ordered from 1886 to 1899, are drawn from Chekhov's most fruitful years as a short-story writer. A truly balanced selection, they exhibit the qualities that make Chekhov one of the greatest fiction writers of all time: his gift for detail, dialogue, and humor; his emotional perception and compassion; and his understanding that life's most important moments are often the most overlooked.

"The reason we like Chekhov so much, now at our century's end," writes Ford in his perceptive introduction, "is because his stories from the last century's end feel so modern to us, are so much of our own time and mind." Exquisitely translated by the renowned Constance Garnett, these stories present a wonderful opportunity to introduce yourself--or become reaquainted with--an artist whose genius and influence only increase with every passing generation.


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian


Card catalog description
In this extraordinary collection of twenty tales, Richard Ford, a master short story writer in his own right, has selected his personal favorites from among more than two hundred of Chekhov's tales and short novels. These stories, ordered chronologically from 1886 to 1899, are drawn from Chekhov's most fruitful years as a short story writer. The translation is by Constance Garnett, who brought Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev to the English-speaking world.


About the Author
Richard Ford, a novelist and short-story writer, is the author of the national bestseller Independence Day, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction in 1996.He has received the Rea Award for the Short Story (1993) and the Award of Merit in the Novel (1996), awarded by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.His most recent book is Women with Men:Three Stories.

FROM THE PUBLISHER