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.
