Hello

I was wondering if anyone had any idea if there are any English-translated editions of Chekhov that have all of his short stories combined, and if not, an edition that contains a majority.

I was just thinking today how the Cherry Orchard can actually by a perfect analogy for the last presidential election and where America, and perhaps much of the democratic world is, in regards to the changing of incumbency.

So here’s my pitch:

The Gayev family represents neoconservatism and neoliberalism. They are useless to modern voters who are fed up with waiting for any actual change or progress to be harolded by their ways.

Yermolai represents right-wing populism. He is the common worker and victim of the neoliberal and neoconservatives politics that lead to no real consequences to the lower and middle classes besides being farther alienated from the wealthy class. He has risen up and claimed his own place in the political hierarchy and wishes to tear down the cherry orchard in hopes something prosperous will take its place.

Tofimov represents left wing populism. Think figures like Bernie Sanders or the student protesters and the far left. They see the system is broken and not until a true embrace of socialist ideas will people be free. Yes, the Gayevs are wrong, but Yermolai is only setting himself up to be the next master class.

Specific figures can be seen in:

Yasha is Donald Trump. He is rude and discourteous but alluring to Dunyasha who represents the American voters. Yepihodov is Joseph Biden/Kamala Harris, incompetent, ineffective, and something bad happens to them everyday.

This is just something I came up with today, let me know your thoughts.

I keep hearing that Chekhov was at odds with Stanislavsky over the interpretation of his plays. That he was mad that Stanislavsky was missing the irony and the levity in them. Leading him to name The Cherry Orchard “a comedy in four acts.” Because the comedy was missing, the way Stanislavsky was directing them. Are there any letters or anything where Chekhov actually says what he thinks about Stanislavsky? In the books I’ve read there wasn’t much on this topic. (“Chekhov: a life in letters.” Donald Rayfield’s biography, etc.)

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Hello! I’m looking for scholarly articles and secondary literature related to Chekhov. I’ve been around JSTOR a bit, but I’m hoping to find more articles or books about his prose. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Hi! I want to assign a fairly challenging scene to two college-aged students who asked for a Chekhov scene. Gender doesn't really matter but ideally the characters are the same age (ie: not mother and son, etc). The scenes that tend to hit the mark are 10ish minutes or a little less. Would love to crowd-source this if you have favorites from his plays!

In my meanderings I found a photo of Olga Knipper which led me to our man Anton, and then to this community. I love the internet for these communities existing. What is your favourite Chekhov work? For me, it’s the plays, especially Uncle Vanya and/or Ranevskaya 🤓

Looking for a short story which I'm fairly sure is by Chekhov but having no luck finding. My recollection of the story is very hazy as I heard it probably 15 years ago.

If my recollection is correct there was a member of the aristocracy/upper classes who had his eye on a girl. The girl however preferred the groundsman (I seem to remember it being the gamekeeper). The aristocrat tricks the groundsman into marrying the girl (or possibly another woman) somehow (no recollection how) and the groundsman is forced to endure a long and unhappy marriage. I think it was told from the point of view of the groundsman looking back on his life.

I think it was broadcast on radio 4 but haven't been able to track down that particular set of stories. Thanks in advance for any help.

I've heard that Chekhov wrote a significant amount of stories before 1888, for financial reasons like looking after family and study expenses. And I've heard these stories are also not as good as his later stories. Can anyone tell how many stories he wrote in that time?

Hi, I'm brand new to reading Chekhov's stories and I've noticed a few times characters will always be referred to by their first and last names instead of just their first. For example Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, in 'The Duel.' Is this a Chekhov thing, or like a thing of Russian literature in general? I don't dislike it but it does come off as strangely formal.

Hi guys, this is my first post here. Been thinking about who could play Chekhov in a movie! But I’m not much of a pop culture connaisseur, and I certainly only know American and British actors.

I mean the question more deeply though than just, someone who looks like him. Who would have the depth, the quiet wisdom, the humour and spontaneity, and so on and so forth. (See what I did there haha)

Where can I find the translated story of Chekhov’s “Typhus” (1887) Are there any books under Penguin Classics that have this one? Are there any other publishers who have translated this story available in the market?

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I’m currently reading My Life and am curious to know if it’s based on actual experiences Chekhov had as a young man. Thank you

Or anything by him really

The characterization seems fine, the writing is beautiful with great imagery, and the moral dilemmas/values of the characters seem right in like with chekhov’s other novels/stories. There is a bit of lack of direction and the ending seems quite predictable. What would you say are the strengths and weaknesses of this novel?

Interesting what writers write about being a writer.

Hello!

I am trying to put together a cut from The Bear for two actors to do that will make sense in a showcase setting but doesn’t run too terribly long. Have any of you done this act as a cut or know of a cut? Thanks so much!

At the end of A Story of a Nobody, the protagonist tells Orlov he will soon die and be "nothing but a sound". That is in Garrett's translation.

Yet in Hugh Aplin's translation he says he will be nothing but a "name".

This passage has always stood out to me and I think about it a lot. But after seeing this difference in translation I'm curious what the correct term is.

Could someone assist?

It's in the last page. In Garrett's paragrah:

Hitherto I have brought her up, but, as you see, before many days I shall be an empty sound. I should like to die with the thought that she is provided for."

"Orlov coloured a little, frowned a little, and took a cursory and sullen glance at me. He was unpleasantly affected, not so much by the "important matter" as by my words about death, about becoming an empty sound.

Born January 29, 1860.

I don't see much activity here. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy have a lot more discussion on Reddit.

What's your favorite story or stories? Why? What did you get from them?

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could anyone kindly be able to tell me if this is a good edited script of the seagull and critique on it thank you

Hello -- I'm teaching this story and need to know if the main character is an INTELLECTUAL or not!

The Garnett translation says, "shopkeeper" and "old inhabitant" -- but the Bartlett translation says "intellectual." Very different things!

Here is original 3rd sentence from "A Requiem"

Не двигается один только лавочник Андрей Андреич, верхнезапрудский интеллигент и старожил

1. Constance Garnett Translation - "The only one who did not move was Andrey Andreyitch, a shopkeeper and old inhabitant of Verhny Zaprudy "

2. Rosamund Bartlett translation (in Norton Critical Edition): "The only person not moving is the shopkeeper Andrey Andreyich, long-term resident intellectual" of Verkhnye Zaprudy." Later in the story, Andrey is offended when Father Grigory speaks to him in a tone not appropriate for "intellectuals." Constance Garnett translates this as "leading resident."