Showing results by author "Anton Chekhov" in All Categories

Three Sisters is a poignant exploration of the disillusionment faced by the privileged class in Russia, capturing the search for meaning in an increasingly complex world. The play centers around the Prozorov family, particularly the three sisters—Olga, Masha, and Irina—and their brother Andrei, who grapple with dissatisfaction and frustration in their small provincial town after years of longing for the vibrant life they left behind in Moscow. This city becomes a powerful symbol of their dreams and aspirations, representing happiness and fulfillment that seems perpetually out of reach. As ...

In Ivanov, we delve into the life of Nicolai (translated as Nicholas) Ivanov, a disillusioned middle-aged public servant grappling with profound unhappiness. His wife, Anna, has been disinherited by her family due to her conversion from Judaism and is now battling tuberculosis. As he navigates overwhelming debt, the complexities of life take a turn when his best friend’s daughter develops an infatuation for him. A masterful blend of comedy and tragedy unfolds in true Chekhovian style, showcasing themes that would resonate throughout the playwrights oeuvre. (Summary by mb)

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (January 29, 1860 - July 15, 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who, though a doctor by profession, is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high-esteem by writers and critics. The following recording includes the short stories "The Trousseau" and "Champagne (A Wayfarer's Story)."

Loss in any form seems to burden us with more weight than anything that can possibly be gained or learnt from. The loss of a person, a loved one, is often overwhelming. Lives so interwoven that the severing or loss of one life leaves the other weakened, unable to function for some time. Recovery comes in a myriad of forms but is usually debilitating, slow and, in the end, we are not as whole as we once were.It is a subject that authors return to again and again.

Anton Chekhov, Guy de Maupassant, Kate Chopin. These three names thrill the literary world as well as our own. They have gravitas, they have knowledge, experience and they have the literary style and panache to seduce our imagined world. Each has written a short story on pleasured lips placed on another’s flesh. For Chekhov it was a kiss in a darkened room that happened by mistake. Who was she? For Chopin it was a kiss that almost derailed a hoped-for marriage proposal. Why did he do that? For de Maupassant it was a niece seeking advice from her Aunt on when to kiss and whom. And did she?

Christmas may come but once a year but evil, intrigue and malevolence are everyday events. Within this volume Christmas is a time when these dark forces form and coalesce to take life and liberty from people who may and who may not deserve the spin of its wheel. Some are merely evil, others have the beginnings of a conscience that displays itself in a dialogue with the devil, or perhaps only themselves. But, in this volume Christmas takes a ringside seat to the horrors of the human heart.

This book includes: "Rothschild's Violin", "The Man in a Case", "A Conversation of a Drunk with a Sober Imp", "Life in Questions and Exclamations".

The coffin-maker Yakov is shocked by his wife's illness, with whom he lived for 52 years. An understanding suddenly came to him that the woman had never seen love or affection from him for the entire time of family life. But only accusations and abuse. The husband, who fell into extreme stinginess, forbade her to drink tea, and the unfortunate woman was forced to drink empty boiling water. Her whole life was spent in work and utmost need in the tiny hut where Yakov stored, ready for sale, coffins.

"A Conversation of a Drunk with a Sober Imp" is a short story by the Russian writer and playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904). Written and first published in 1886, the story is a miniature describing the meeting of a retired collegiate secretary Lakhmatov, who was pretty drunk, with the imp who suddenly appeared at night. The uninvited guest turned out to be a talkative creature who experienced the same infringements and inconveniences in his service as the retired collegiate secretary Lakhmatov.

Thirteen-year-old Varka, who lost her father, is hired as a servant and a babysitter in a shoemaker's house. All day long, she is forced to fulfill the owners’ orders, and later, she sits all night long by the cradle, trying desperately not to fall asleep. Varka knows that she would be severely beaten for that by her masters….

"Life in Questions and Exclamations" is a short story by the Russian writer and playwright Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904). Written and first published in 1882 in the journal Alarm Clock under the pseudonym Antosha Chekhonte, the short story "Life in Questions and Exclamations" is written in an unusual form of a collection of key phrases—memoirs for each stage of a man's life—childhood, adolescence, youth, the period "between 20 and 30 years", "between 30-50 years", and old age.

Step into a world of whimsy and subtle introspection with stories that explore the unpredictable nature of life through the eyes of everyday characters. Discover tales that delve into themes of loyalty, change, and the unexpected twists of fate that can reshape lives in an instant. This podcast offers a rotating collection of full-length audiobooks, bringing you a new classic each week. Experience a rich variety of narratives spanning different eras and styles, as each episode introduces a fresh perspective on the human experience. Whether you're seeking insight or simply wish to enjoy ...

Lieutenant-General von Rabbek is a local aristocrat, who invites the officers of the Reserve Artillery Brigade to a cup of tea with brandy. Of all the guests, Ryabovitch is the most unpleasant one. While doing his best to avoid talking to people, Ryabovitch enters a dark room, where he an unknown woman surprises him by kissing him, then running away. The unexpected kiss awakes Ryabovitch's curiosity and passion, and the man spends the rest of the evening searching for the mysterious woman.

After Olenka Plemyannikova’s father dies, she marries Ivan Kukin - the owner of the local theater. She soon takes over some of his paperwork-related roles and becomes more involved in the business. Unfortunately, Kukin dies in Moscow during one of his work-related travels. Olenka’s grief does not last too long and she soon gets married to a timber yard worker named Vasily Pustovalov. They live a happily and comfortable life together, until one day Pustovalov gets sick and dies a few days later.

While hosting a party, a banker makes a bet with one of his guests, who is a lawyer. The topic of the bet is capital punishment and whether it is worse or better than a life sentence. The banker sees the capital punishment as more humane than life imprisonment, whilst the young lawyer completely disagrees. The bet is as follows: if the lawyer spends fifteen years in complete isolation, the banker will give him two million rubles. As the years pass, the banker realizes that he will go bankrupt if he loses the bet.

Dmitri Gurov is a nearly forty-year-old man, who is married and has three children. He is unhappy with his marriage and regrets this big mistake every single day. While on a vacation, Dmitri meets Anna Sergeyevna - a young lady, who just like him is unhappily married. Very soon a love affair enfolds between the two and they start secretly meeting at different places. Unfortunately, Anna must go back to Moscow because her husband is having some health issues.

"The Wife" is one of the famous works of A.P. Chekhov. The plot focuses on a conflict between spouses, where the ambitions and pride of one destroy family life and relationships with others. The work captivates with laconic content, deep meaning and brilliant Chekhov's syllable.

A collection of classic, exciting short stories and poems, narrated by Adam Lubitz. There are nine tracks total and over two hours of content.

The well-laid plans of two newlyweds go astray when an uncle and family arrive on the train on which the newlyweds are headed home for an intimate dinner.

An award-winning audiobook narrator and producer reads Anton Chekhov's "The Beggar", a moral tale in which the arrogant and self-righteous lawyer thinks he has "saved" the beggar by teaching him how to work for a living. In fact, he would have never continued the original task (or even begun it) if it weren't for the example of the lawyer's compassionate cook, who quietly chopped the wood for him without expecting anything in return. It was Olga's example of self-sacrifice, not Skvortsoff's example of "do-goodism" that inspired the man to change his life.