Anton Chekhov

This volume presents the first comprehensive annotated edition of Chekhov''s earliest stories in English.  Translated as part of a unique project involving 85 volunteers from 9 countries, the 58 stories were all written between 1880 and 1882, when Chekhov was in his early twenties, and still at medical school. They make up volume 1 of the 10 volumes of short stories in the authoritative thirty-volume Academy of Sciences edition of Chekhov’s Complete Collected Works, and have been arranged in chronological order.  Ranging from comic tales, hilarious skits, literary parodies, outrageous pot-boilers and poignant novellas, the stories are all aimed at a wide audience, and offer a revealing window into the unknown early chapter of Chekhov''s life and literary career.

A civil servant stands accused of not understanding the rules of punctuation. He begins to go through the correct use of commas and semicolons before arriving at the exclamation mark, which, he realizes, in 40 years of writing, he has never used. From here he develops a bizarre and paranoid fantasy in which everyday objects transform into malevolent exclamation marks. Written when Chekhov was on the verge of becoming a literary celebrity, this is an enlightening new selection that reveals the author? s often neglected comic talents.

"Chekhov''s stories are as wonderful (and necessary) now as when they first appeared. [...] stories that shrive us as well as delight and move us, that lay bare our emotions in ways only true art can accomplish" - Raymond CarverThis elegant pocket edition brings together 25 celebrated short stories by Anton Chekhov, featuring silver cover embossing and gilded page-edges.Chekhov''s short stories were some of the most influential in modern literature. Relying on subtlety and clever characterization rather than explicit action, his sketches of Russian life bring out comedy, tragedy and all aspects of human nature. This beautiful collection features some of Chekhov''s most celebrated stories, including ''Vanka'', ''The Lady with a Dog'' and ''Gooseberries'', using the classic translation by Constance Garnett.This beautiful gift edition is presented with gilded page edges, foil cover embossing and patterned endpapers, making a wonderful collectible edition for any lover of classic literature.ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautiful pocket editions of iconic literary works from across history. Presented with striking foil cover embossing, gilded page edges, and deluxe ivory paper, these editions make the perfect gift for lovers of classic literature.