The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories

The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories (1917) is a collection of nine stories by Russian writer Anton Chekhov. Recognized today as foundational for the development of the modern short story, Anton Chekhov has transcended Russian literature to become one of the most popular and acclaimed authors in history, in any language. This collection includes "The Lady with the Dog," a meditative tale of forbidden desire and the frailty of hope described by Vladimir Nabokov as "one of the greatest stories ever written" despite breaking "[a]ll the traditional rules" of storytelling.

The title story of the collection follows Dmitri Gurov, a married middle-aged man who falls in love with a young newlywed while on vacation in Yalta. The woman he desires, Anna Sergeyevna, is also unhappy with her marriage, and soon the two spend their days together before Anna decides to go home to her husband. Back in Moscow, Gurov-a man who has had many affairs-finds himself unable to shake the memory of Anna, and longs for the chance to see her once more. In "A Doctor's Visit," a young doctor named Korlyov journeys to the home of a recently deceased industrialist, where he has been called to care for the frail heiress Liza. There, he finds himself beset with dark thoughts and even darker visions, and soon discovers that the cure for Liza's illness may be far beyond his skill.

With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Anton Chekhov's The Lady with the Dog and Other Stories is a classic of Russian literature reimagined for modern readers.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian doctor, short-story writer, and playwright. Born in the port city of Taganrog, Chekhov was the third child of Pavel, a grocer and devout Christian, and Yevgeniya, a natural storyteller. His father, a violent and arrogant man, abused his wife and children and would serve as the inspiration for many of the writer's most tyrannical and hypocritical characters. Chekhov studied at the Greek School in Taganrog, where he learned Ancient Greek. In 1876, his father's debts forced the family to relocate to Moscow, where they lived in poverty while Anton remained in Taganrog to settle their finances and finish his studies. During this time, he worked odd jobs while reading extensively and composing his first written works. He joined his family in Moscow in 1879, pursuing a medical degree while writing short stories for entertainment and to support his parents and siblings. In 1876, after finishing his degree and contracting tuberculosis, he began writing for St. Petersburg's Novoye Vremya, a popular paper which helped him to launch his literary career and gain financial independence. A friend and colleague of Leo Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky, and Ivan Bunin, Chekhov is remembered today for his skillful observations of everyday Russian life, his deeply psychological character studies, and his mastery of language and the rhythms of conversation.