• The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 1

  • 1882–1885
  • By: Anton Chekhov
  • Narrated by: Anthony Heald
  • Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (443 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 1  By  cover art

The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 1

By: Anton Chekhov
Narrated by: Anthony Heald
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.22

Buy for $13.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

A Russian author, playwright, and physician, Anton Chekhov is widely considered one of the best short-story writers of all time. Having influenced such writers as Ernest Hemingway, Raymond Carver, and James Joyce, Chekhov’s stories are often noted for their stream-of-consciousness style and their vast number. Raymond Carver once said, “It is not only the immense number of stories he wrote—for few, if any, writers have ever done more—it is the awesome frequency with which he produced masterpieces, stories that shrive us as well as delight and move us, that lay bare our emotions in ways only true art can accomplish.”

In The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Volume 1: 1882–1885, Blackstone has compiled forty-one of Chekhov’s delightful short stories: "A Living Chattel", "Joy", "At the Barber’s", "An Enigmatic Nature", "A Classical Student", "The Death of a Government Clerk", "The Trousseau", "A Daughter of Albion", "An Inquiry", "Fat and Thin", "A Tragic Actor", "The Bird Market", "A Slander", "The Swedish Match", "Choristers", "The Album", "Minds in Ferment", "A Chameleon", "In the Graveyard", "Oysters", "The Marshal’s Widow", "Small Fry", "In an Hotel", "Boots", "Nerves", "A Country Cottage", "Malingerers", "The Fish", "Gone Astray", "The Huntsman", "A Malefactor", "The Head of the Family", "A Dead Body", "The Cook’s Wedding", "In a Strange Land", "Overdoing It", "Old Age", "Sorrow", "Oh! The Public!", "Mari d’Elle", and "The Looking-Glass".

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“It is not only the immense number of stories he wrote…it is the awesome frequency with which he produced masterpieces.” (Raymond Carver)

Featured Article: Essential Russian Authors to Know in Audio


Don’t be daunted by the towering reputations of Russia’s literary giants. Listening is the perfect way to appreciate the masters. Russia is a sprawling country with a rich and complex history, which is reflected in its literature. Whether you’re keen on brushing up on classic Russian literature or you want to find a new author to explore, we’ve rounded up 13 of the best Russian authors, classic and contemporary, whose work you should know.

What listeners say about The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 1

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    257
  • 4 Stars
    111
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    5
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    278
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    22
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    247
  • 4 Stars
    78
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    14
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterworks, brilliantly performed, horribly indexed by Audible

How is Audible rationalized not setting out story titles in the index of chapter numbers? How am I supposed to navigate back to something I want to hear again?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

45 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Ecellent!

One day I will learn. I always expect the Russian authors to be dry and intellectual. They always surprise me by their warmth and life. These short stories by Chekhov reveal many facets of the human character in dramatic contrast.
I have a warning though. Don't try to listen to them in long sittings. These are like candy and should only be taken a few at a time. There is too much to ponder in each story to pay attention to subsequent ones properly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Riot

These stories are absolute gems. In each one Chekhov hilariously (and not without compassion) uncovers the absurdity of some common human foible. Anthony Heald delivers a stellar performance. His various character voices, paired with Chekhov's writing, have made me laugh out loud countless times. Thanks to both of these gentlemen for such an enjoyable listen!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

21 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

First time reading Anton Chekhov....

This was my first experience with stories by Anton Chekhov and I'm happy to report I was not disappointed. His stories make you think, not in a laborious way but in a way that pulls one side of your mouth up in a sly way. I've already ordered volume 2! The narrator was superb. My favorite story was probably the looking glass.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Great Chekhov

This is an excellent translation of Chekhov's sort stories . I loved to listen them. Chekhov is one of the best short story teller. Some of the stories I read in Russian but with big interest listen to them in English too. The narrater was excellent and was able with his voice to portray the Russian soul. I highly recommend this book to my fellow audible readers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What's with the falsetto?

What didn’t you like about Anthony Heald’s performance?

I wish Mr. Heald gave up his ambition to be an actor. He is no actor! Unfortunately he belongs to the vast cohort of audio readers who think they must somehow mimic the voice of the characters in a dialogue. His way of doing this is using the same falsetto voice indistinctly for women, children, old people, and timid people. The effect is condescending and possibly misogynistic. Conversely, men are made to sound gruff and mumbling. These mannerisms he injects into the dialogue ruin the story completely. As you go on listening, it becomes more and more unbearable.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A master storyteller

In an effort to master the art of writing short fiction, I've turned to one of the great masters of this medium. Refreshingly, many of these stories are actually quite short, which is often the greater writing challenge.

The content of these stories cover provincial life in pre-revolution Russia. Most are cautionary tales told with economy and sympathy for the characters. The reader is often left to draw her own conclusions.

I can't wait to hear volume 2.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very entertaining

Would you listen to The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 1 again? Why?

Yes. Chekhov is among the most praised short story writers.

What did you like best about this story?

Each story is a treasure.

What does Anthony Heald bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I'm impressed with the range of characters that come to life. Excellent performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful classics about Russia

Pre-revolution Russia. Stories about peasants and small gentry. I love them, but then, I loved reading Tolstoy's short stories in elementary school. English translation, of course.) Reader is good, too. His personification of whining peasantry is wonderfully irritating.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Well-told stories from a master

Every one of these stories is a gem. Some a real masterpieces. The narrator is superb. He makes each person come alive with different sounding voices.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful