About Love and Other Stories
0
0
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Author Description
'the Greatest Short Story Writer Who Has Ever Lived' Raymond Carver's 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. While His Popularity As A Playwright Has Sometimes Overshadowed His Achievements In Prose, The Importance Of Chekhov's Stories Is Now Recognized By Readers As Well As By Fellow Authors. Their Themes - Alienation, The Absurdity And Tragedy Of Human Existence - Have As Much Relevance Today As When They Were Written, And These Superb New Translations Capture Their Modernist Spirit. Elusive And Subtle, Spare And Unadorned, The Stories In This Selection Are Among Chekhov's Most Poignant And Lyrical. They Include Well-known Pieces Such As 'the Lady With The Little Dog', As Well As Less Familiar Work Like 'gusev', Inspired By Chekhov's Travels In The Far East, And 'rothschild's Violin', A Haunting And Darkly Humorous Tale About Death And Loss. About The Series: For Over 100 Years Oxford World's Classics Has Made Available The Widest Range Of Literature From Around The Globe. Each Affordable Volume Reflects Oxford's Commitment To Scholarship, Providing The Most Accurate Text Plus A Wealth Of Other Valuable Features, Including Expert Introductions By Leading Authorities, Helpful Notes To Clarify The Text, Up-to-date Bibliographies For Further Study, And Much More.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
The collection centers on the quiet, often devastating collisions between individual desire and the rigid social structures of late 19th-century Russia. Each story follows characters navigating the mundane realities of their existence, often confronting the realization that their personal aspirations remain perpetually out of reach. Chekhov employs a detached, observational framework that prioritizes psychological interiority over dramatic external action. The narratives operate within the constraints of a society defined by class hierarchy and emotional repression, forcing protagonists to reconcile their internal lives with the external expectations placed upon them.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Focus on the psychological nuance of ordinary characters
- Minimalist prose style that avoids overt moralizing
- Exploration of the disconnect between intention and outcome
- Use of atmospheric settings to mirror internal states
- Integration of dark humor with existential melancholy
- Emphasis on the significance of small, seemingly inconsequential moments
- Examination of social alienation and human isolation
- Lyrical descriptions of the Russian landscape and provincial life
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently highlight Chekhov's ability to capture the complexity of human experience through sparse, unadorned language. Discussion often centers on his mastery of the short story form, noting how he manages to convey profound emotional weight without relying on traditional plot climaxes. Many observers point to the timeless nature of his themes, particularly the persistent sense of alienation and the absurdity inherent in daily life. The collection is widely regarded as a foundational text for understanding the development of modernist prose, with many readers appreciating the subtle, lingering impact of his character studies.
Page Count:
256
Publication Date:
2008-01-01
Publisher:
Oup Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191560626
ISBN-13:
9780191560620
Fiction
Realism
Russian
Short Stories
Classic Literature
