The Complete Stories of Anton Chekhov, Vol. 2

1886

By: Anton Chekhov

Narrated by: Anthony Heald

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 2: 1886, Blackstone has compiled fifty-five of Anton Chekhov’s short stories: Art, A Blunder, Children, Misery, An Upheaval, An Actor’s End, The Requiem, Anyuta, Ivan Matveyitch, The Witch, A Story without an End, A Joke, Agafya, A Nightmare, Grisha, Love, Easter Eve, Ladies, Strong Impressions, A Gentleman Friend, A Happy Man, The Privy Councillor, A Day in the Country, At a Summer Villa, Panic Fears, The Chemist’s Wife, Not Wanted, The Chorus Girl, The Schoolmaster, A Troublesome Visitor, The Husband, A Misfortune, A Pink Stocking, Martyrs, The First-Class Passenger, Talent, The Dependents, The Jeune Premier, In the Dark, A Trivial Incident, A Tripping Tongue, A Trifle from Life, Difficult People, In the Court, A Peculiar Man, Mire, Dreams, Hush!, Excellent People, An Incident, The Orator, A Work of Art, Who Was to Blame?, Vanka, and On the Road.

Anton Chekov (1860–1904) was the author of hundreds of short stories and several plays and is regarded by many as both the greatest Russian storyteller and the father of modern drama.

©Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

Praise for Anton Chekhov: “It is not only the immense number of stories he wrote…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.” (Raymond Carver)

Beautifully read stories, full of insight, humor and sadness, each with a surprising structure, and only marred by a rare tinge

Of antisemitism. But if we accept that from Shakespeare and Dostoevsky, why not from Chekhov?

Even better than the first collection

This collection of stories surpassed my expectations, listening to it fresh off the heels of the first collection (which I loved) I didn't think it could get better but I was wrong. The narrator again was superb and this is such a great peek into Anton Chekhov

Unexpectedly good read

Wish the chapters were titles so I could go back easier but that was my only complaint. No idea what to expect was was pleasantly surprised!

Superb! A Gem!

Chekhov’s stories are among the best in the world. This is an excellent collection, and the reading by Anthony Heald is splendid.

What more can I say? It has my highest possible endorsement.

Exceptional Conclusion

Most classic Russian literature reads like a soap opera that was written as entertainment for the wealthy. Chekhov's stories are about common men, human nature and ghost stories. They give a much better indication of what life in Russia was. I'm not a fan of most Russian classics but I recommend Chekhov.