Anton Chekhov Short Story Collection Vol.1: In a Strange Land and Other Stories

ISBN 9781907832024

A collection of 11 Short Stories by Anton Chekhov featuring A Tragic Actor; In A Strange Land; Oh The Public;The Looking Glass; Her Husband; Overdoing It; Talent; Anyuta; The Helpmate; Ivan Matveyich; Polinka; Audio book version contains 2 CDs or downloadable as 11 MP3 files. Read in English (Unabridged). E-Book version contains all 11 stories, introduction and notes. Paper back version will contain all 11 stories from this release and additional stories from future release entitled “About Truth, Freedom and Love”. Paper back version is planned for release in 2011.

The selection of stories in this book represents Chekhov’s early work which perhaps is not as well known as some of his plays. The stories nevertheless possess unique potency and relevance to our modern lives just as they did back in 19th century Russia when they first appeared in various Russian publications.

Chekhov himself described his work as comic satire: "All I wanted was to say honestly to people: 'Have a look at yourselves and see how bad and dreary your lives are!' The important thing is that people should realize that, for when they do, they will most certainly create another and better life for themselves. I will not live to see it, but I know that it will be quite different, quite unlike our present life.”

Chekhov was often criticized by prominent literary reviewers of the time for not providing readers with an answer or ideas how these “dreary lives” can be improved. Of course Chekhov is not giving a direct instruction or providing readers with a manual on how to live a life, but it is possible to find solutions in his stories − they appear between the lines for each reader. Resolutions are different for each person and only each individual soul can find the right and most appropriate way in their life. Chekhov’s own response to this is well documented. He often insisted that the job of an artist was not to answer questions, it was to ask them.

CD1

01 A Tragic Actor
02 In A Strange Land
03 Oh! The Public
04 The Looking Glass
05 Her Husband
06 Overdoing It

CD2

01 Talent
02 Anyuta
03 The Helpmate
04 Ivan Matveyitch
05 Polinka

About The Author

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (Антон Павлович Чехов) 1860 – 1904 was a Russian short story writer, playwright and physician, considered to be one of the greatest short story writers in the history of world literature. His career as a dramatist produced all-time classics The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and Cherry Orchard. His short stories are held in high esteem by writers, critics and audiences of all generations.

What the Critics Say About Anton Chekhov

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. Richard Ford

Anton Chekhov's late stories mark a pivotal moment in European fiction — the point where nineteenth-century realist conventions of the short story begin their transformation into the modern form. His psychological insight was profound and dynamic. Joyce may have more exactly captured the texture of human consciousness, but no short story writer has better expressed its often invisible complexities. Dana Gioia

Chekhov raised the portrayal of banality to the level of world literature. He developed the short story as a form of literary art to one of its highest peaks, and the translation of his stories into English has constituted one of the greatest single literary influences at work in the short story of America, England, and Ireland. This influence has been one of the factors encouraging the short-story writers of these nations to revolt against the conventional plot story and seek in simple and realistic terms to make of the story a form that more seriously reflects life. James T Farrell

About The Composer

Pyotr Ilyich Chaikovskiy (Пётр Ильич Чайковский) 1840 – 1893, Russian composer of the Romantic era. Chaikovskiy achieved worldwide recognition during his lifetime, was awarded an honorary doctorate at Cambridge University. In 1891 the Carnegie Hall program booklet proclaimed him to be one of the greatest living musicians. Music critics praised him as "a modern music lord". In Russia Chaikovskiy was considered a national treasure, and his music admired and adored by all. He wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the current classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, the 1812 Overture, his Piano Concertos, his Symphonies, and the opera Eugene Onegin.

About The Translator

Constance Clara Garnett 1861 — 1946, English translator of nineteenth century Russian Literature. Following her visit to Russia in 1893 where she met Leo Tolstoy, Constance started translating Russian literature, which became her life's passion and resulted in English language versions of dozens of volumes by Tolstoy, Pushkin, Turgenev, Chekhov and other prominent Russian writers. Russian anarchist Sergei Stepniak assisted in preparation of her early works.

Joseph Conrad compared Constance to a great musician interpreting a great composer (Turgenev). Katherine Mansfield wrote: ‘Constance Garnett transformed the lives of younger authors by revealing a new world.’ Without her translations, H. E. Bates believed, modern English literature itself could not have been what it is.  Max Bollinger considers Garnett’s translation work as the most faithful to original Russian and most characteristic of the era.  He wrote in his introductory note to Turgenev’s Mumu: ‘As a native Russian speaker I can tell you that the elegance, wit and idiomatic composition of Garnett’s work is of highest calibre. There are very few modern translators who can compete with Constance. I must commend Constance for finding such finely tuned and creative way of relaying the social status and other characteristics of personages in the story. Constance does capture the very spirit and essence of the time.’

Reviews more reviews>

Short Stories by Anton Checkov is an audio book containing five of Checkov’s stories. They are delightfully narrated by Max Bollinger in his charming accented English. The stories are excellent examples of Checkov’s style. Superb characterisation and brilliantly observed slices of life. Checkov’s stories don’t come to an end they just peter out inconclusively leaving you to draw your own conclusions. A very enjoyable collection. Alan Moreton (Essex, UK)

A lovely listen, rich, velvety Russian voice, never obtrusive. Well-paced reading, nicely interspersed with Tchaikovsky for atmosphere. A good addition to reading the plays or stories. I will recommend it to my pupils who are studying The Cherry Orchard. Liz O’Sullivan (France)

I really enjoyed this short story collection, read by Max Bollinger with music by Chaikovskiy. I loved hearing the stories read with the Russian accent and the music really pulled the whole cd together. The stories are all about ten minutes long and the whole listening experience is calming and enjoyable. As always, Chekov's stories are interesting and provide a great listening experience.Elena Garabis (VA, USA)

Anton Chekhov was one of the early masters of the short story as well as a great playwright. As is typical of Chekhov’s stories, the five tracks here are carefully constructed slices of life, rich in portrait and moral ambiguity rather than dramatic experiences. Some listeners will find them a less familiar side of the author of UNCLE VANYA and THE CHERRY ORCHARD. Max Bollinger brings the authentic voice and soul of Russia to these classic Constance Garnett translations. While many of the issues in these stories are timeless, listeners will also get to visit, for a while, the old Russia of the czars. D.M.H. AudioFile Magazine, Portland (USA)

These unabridged stories in the faithful Constance Garnett translation are presented with fine flourish by the Russian-born narrator. The poignant, everyday dramas of Imperial Russia are here, from jolting carriages across boundless taiga, to a tragic actor and a French tutor insulted by his boastful employer. Rachel Redford, The Observer, The Guardian (UK) MORE REVIEWS >

Where to Order CD

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Where to Download MP3

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