Audiobook · read by volunteers
Tales of Chekhov Vol. 01
Anton Chekhov (1860–1904)
Read by Kirsten Ferreri · 6 chapters · 2 h 01
About the book
Anton Chekhov was a doctor who took up fiction as a hobby and became one of the masters of the short story. This is the first of thirteen volumes of his tales in the English translation by Constance Garnett. The six stories gathered here, among them The Darling, Ariadne, Polinka and Anyuta, show the range of his early and middle work: affectionate portraits of women, comic misunderstandings, sharp observations of vanity and the quiet sadness underlying many ordinary lives. Chekhov never forces his effects, and he leaves his readers to draw their own conclusions. Six recordings, about two hours, for an introduction to a writer whose short fiction is still widely admired. The stories are short enough to hear in a single sitting, and each one leaves something to think over afterwards.
Introduction
Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian doctor who turned to fiction at first as a side occupation and soon became one of the great figures of the short story. He is also famous as a dramatist, but his stories, of which he wrote hundreds, are for many readers the heart of his work. His style is restrained, observant and humane, and his endings often leave a question open.
The English translations of Constance Garnett (1861-1946) made Chekhov available to a wide readership in Britain and America. She translated his tales into thirteen volumes, which appeared between 1916 and 1922, and her versions were very influential, although later translators have offered alternatives. This recording is the first volume of that series.
The stories included here are The Darling, Ariadne, Polinka, Anyuta and others. They give a sense of the variety of his concerns, from the comedy of habit and character to the pain of disappointment. Chekhov is often admired for his ability to find drama in the smallest events and to portray people without judging them.
The recording has six files and lasts about two hours. It was read by a LibriVox volunteer. It is a good first step for anyone new to Chekhov, and a pleasant return for those who know him. Anyone who wishes to continue can move on to the later volumes, in which Garnett’s translations present many more tales of town, country and the human heart.
Public domain
Anton Chekhov died in 1904: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text