• THE CATTLE-DEALERS Cover
      by LovelyMay In "The Cattle-Dealers," a chapter from "The Schoolmistress and Other Stories," we are introduced to the arduous journey of Gavril Malahin and his son Yakov (Yasha) as they transport eight vanloads of cattle by train to the city. The narrative opens with them waiting in a cold, cramped van alongside their livestock, emphasizing the discomfort and harsh conditions of their trip. Malahin Senior is depicted as a grizzled, experienced cattle dealer, accustomed to the vagaries and corruption endemic to the…
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      IN EXILE

      IN EXILE Cover
      by LovelyMay In the stark and unforgiving expanse of Siberia, by a riverbank and the flickering light of a campfire, Old Semyon, known as Canny, converses with a young Tatar, revealing the profound isolation and despair of exile. The narrative unfolds through their dialogue, contrasting experiences, and contemplations of life in a remote, desolate environment. Semyon, hardened by twenty-two years as a ferryman, claims contentment with his simple existence, devoid of desire or ambition, preaching a philosophy of…
    • A LADY’S STORY Cover
      by LovelyMay Nine years prior, during a hay-making season, the narrator and Pyotr Sergeyitch, the deputy prosecutor, journeyed to collect letters. Their return was marked by an approaching storm, setting a dramatic backdrop that heightened the allure of their surroundings and their spirits. Pyotr Sergeyitch, caught up in the moment's exhilaration, whimsically mused about finding shelter in a medieval castle, only to be caught in the rain and joke about being struck by lightning. This shared adventure drew them closer,…
    • AFTER THE THEATRE Cover
      by LovelyMay After witnessing a performance of "Yevgeny Onyegin," Nadya Zelenin, a 16-year-old girl, is swept up in the romantic and tragic elements of the story. Inspired by the character Tatyana, she hastily sets about writing a dramatic and heartfelt letter, pretending to address it to a loved one as Tatyana did, professing unrequited love and the turmoil it brings. She imagines the letter is directed at Gorny, an officer, and Gruzdev, a student, both of whom are purported to love her. However, Nadya is caught up in…
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      CHAMPAGNE

      CHAMPAGNE Cover
      by LovelyMay In the vignette "Champagne: A Wayfarer's Story" from "The Schoolmistress and Other Stories," the narrator recounts his desolate existence as a railway station employee in a remote, uninhabited part of southwestern Russia. Life at the station is marked by isolation, with the only human interactions being brief glimpses of passengers through train windows and the company of his wife, a deaf telegraph clerk, and a few watchmen. The narrator's only solace in this desolation comes from drinking drugged vodka…
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      MISERY

      MISERY Cover
      by LovelyMay In the bleak twilight, amidst swirling snowflakes, Iona Potapov sits motionless, cloaked in white, on his sledge. The world around him bustles with life, yet he and his horse remain still, engulfed in their own silence, contemplating their detachment from the familiar to the chaotic city life. Hours pass without a single fare, until finally, an impatient officer beckons Iona to Vyborgskaya, sparking a brief encounter filled with disconnection and misunderstanding. Despite Iona's attempt to share his grief…
    • A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN Cover
      by LovelyMay The chapter presents a deeply moving narrative centered on Vassilyev, a law student in Moscow, who is introduced to the harrowing world of prostitution by his friends, the medical student Mayer and the artist Rybnikov. Initially ignorant and naive about the realities of "fallen women," Vassilyev's experience in S. Street's brothels profoundly affects him, leading him into a severe emotional and psychological crisis. Despite his friends' more detached or frivolous attitudes towards the encounters, Vassilyev…
    • THE SCHOOLMISTRESS Cover
      by LovelyMay In a quiet, reflective tone, the chapter introduces Marya Vassilyevna, a meticulous schoolmistress pondering over her school’s upcoming examination while journeying home through desolate, muddy Russian countryside. Her thoughts are momentarily diverged by news of a government clerk's arrest and the passing encounter with Hanov, a neighboring landowner known for his lethargy and alleged drinking habits, once an examiner at her school. Marya Vassilyevna reflects on Hanov’s inexplicable choice to live in…
    • The Schoolmistress and Other Stories Cover
      by LovelyMay The Schoolmistress and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov is a poignant collection of short stories capturing the complexities of human nature, societal struggles, and the quiet tragedies of everyday life. With his characteristic wit and empathy, Chekhov explores themes of love, loneliness, and the fleeting nature of happiness.
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      PART THE THIRD

      PART THE THIRD Cover
      by LovelyMay Paphnutius, having returned to the desert from Alexandria where he converted the courtesan Thais to a life of piety, struggles with temptations and doubts about his faith. The holy desert, his former haven of peace, now feels alien to him. Despite the joyous welcome from his disciples, Paphnutius finds himself disenchanted with his cell and the ascetic life he once cherished. The tranquility and sense of divine presence he used to feel are replaced with a profound sense of loss and a questioning of his…
      Fiction • Novel
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