#195 The New Villa

Please find today’s 5781 word story here: http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/195.html Travis review: I liked this story because it got under my skin. It the story of wealthy, well-intentioned people building a house in a small village and dealing with the petty and belligerent peasants. Unlike My Life, which had the peasants acting in selfish and horrible ways to the …

#187 At Home

Please find today’s 4973 word short story here: http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/187.html Travis review Today’s story is very different than The Peasants although both stories feature people returning to their childhood homes. Vera comes back to the steppe after inheriting her father’s estate. Having spent several years abroad she sees potential for her old home, but she is …

#177 Three Years

Find today’s 35,540 word novella here: http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/177.html Travis review: This is a long story. Through 17 chapters this downbeat low-key drama takes place over the course of three years, but it felt like ten or more. There are many good moments as the story tracks the marriage of wealthy merchant heir to a girl he’d seen …

#164 In Exile

Please find today’s 3964 word story here:  http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/164.html  Travis review: In today’s short story, Chekhov contrasts two characters who are extreme opposites working on a ferry barge in Siberia… which is a step away from being in the lowest rung of hell. The Tatar represents innocence and virtue compared to the world weary cynicism and cruelty of Canny. As Siberia is …

#148 The Steppe (The Story of a Journey)

Today’s novella comes in at 39,155 words. http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/148.html Travis review: This review took longer to come out than others. Not only was I traveling over the weekend (and have 7 out of the last 8 this summer which has affected the consistency of daily reviews), but the length of this story is tremendous compared to the …

#118 The Examining Magistrate

Find today’s story here: http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/118.html An examining magistrate tells a true story about a woman, who in the prime of her health successfully predicts her own death. The structure unfolds like a mystery, as the majority of the story details the woman’s life starting from the point that she made her prediction: “Directly after my confinement. …

#098 Frost

Today’s story is 2557 words and can be found here:  http://www.chekhovshorts.com/stories/098.html Travis Review: As we’ve seen, Chekhov is good at creating new and interesting characters. Today has made an another unique creation, a chatty, happy-go-lucky 70 year old mayor. Typically his older men have been tired and forlorn, the exception being Terenty from A Day …