A Russian Affair

Posted on | July 14, 2010 | 13 Comments

One of my very first reviews on Paperback Reader was of First Love by Ivan Turgenev and soon after I was gifted the complete Penguin Great Loves boxset. When the Classics Circuit announced a tour of Imperial Russian literature, I was given the opportunity to read further about Russian love from the collection by opting for A Russian Affair by Anton Chekhov.

I have read Chekhov’s plays in the past and some of his short stories here and there; one of the stories, “The House with the Mezzanine” I read last year in the anthology, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off: Love Quarrels from Anton Chekhov to ZZ Packer also appears in this brief collection. Consisting of only five short stories -all about love- A Russian Affair is a bite-size taster of Chekhov’s mastery of the short story form. As a classic Russian writer, Chekhov can intimidate but he is surprisingly accessible and I am a great fan of his style; in the fashion of my favourite short story writer, Katherine Mansfield, Chekhov’s short stories are perfect little pieces of art.

Reading “The House With the Mezzanine” a second time in this volume was enriching; the first time it didn’t make a strong impression on me but rereading it I realised how powerful an evocation of first love it was. An artist’s story, narrated in the first-person with hindsight, he recalls visits with two sisters seven years previously; he quarrelled continually with outspoken Lida whilst shy Zhenya was compliant and admiring of both her older sister and the artist. Like the first story “About Love”, it is not about unrequited love but about love that is not acted upon, that haunts in its intensity and regret. These first two stories struck me as being reminiscent of Turgenev’s First Love and wondered how much Chekhov was influenced by his successor; I also checked to see whether they perhaps had the same translator, but they did not share similarities in that technical way but more fundamentally in tone.

Also in included in this collection is one of Chekhov’s more famous short stories, “The Lady with the Dog”, which is the adulterous Russian affair to which the title alludes; this story moves from young love explored in the earlier stories to the more difficult, all-consuming love.

A Russian Affair provides an insight into Chekhov’s writing style, is easy to read and makes for romantic reading with emotional depth. With only five stories, it is a mere sample of what Chekhov has to offer, but it is enjoyable glimpse of his work that draws you in with its exploration of the emotional complexities of love.

Category: Book Reviews, Books in Translation
Tags: Anton Chekhov > Classics Circuit > Katherine Mansfield > Penguin Books > Russian literature > Short Stories

Comments

13 Responses to “A Russian Affair”

Simon (Savidge Reads)
July 14th, 2010 @ 1:59 pm

Oooh what a lovely cover and it sounds like the book and stories inside are as delightful.

I have wanted to read The Lady and The Dog because of reading The Reader. I have that collection and this makes me think I should get on and read some of them! I hope they will be as accesable as these appear.
Stujallen
July 14th, 2010 @ 3:18 pm

what a lovely cover claire ,I ve only read a few chekov storiesw but always enjoy them ,all the best stu
Steph
July 14th, 2010 @ 3:32 pm

I’ve not read Chekhov in any form before, and as you know, I’m not a huge fan of short stories… but perhaps that’s because I’ve not read any of his short stories? After all, he is supposed to be the short story master… Also, I’ve been in the mood for romantic stories of late, so perhaps this is just what I need.
Emily
July 14th, 2010 @ 5:17 pm

I keep hearing wonderful things about Chekhov’s short stories – definitely need to check them out. My only experience of him is of reading his only novel, which I have to say was terrible! I can see why he abandoned the form to focus on plays and short stories, which by all accounts he did much better.
Simon T
July 14th, 2010 @ 11:48 pm

Gosh this reminds me that I too have that boxset, but have so far only read one of them (Mary by Nabakov)
mee
July 15th, 2010 @ 12:25 am

Oh wow Penguin Great Loves collection looks mighty amazing. I read The Lady and the Dog in My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead anthology, and have been meaning to read him again. Should pick up the Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off anthology I have at home. I haven’t read one story from that one. It’s interesting that you said Chekhov could be intimidating. Somehow he never intimidated me. I guess we all have different intimidating authors.
Becky from Page Turners
July 15th, 2010 @ 2:19 am

I have a collection of his short stories on my shelf that I really must get around to reading!
JoAnn
July 15th, 2010 @ 3:42 am

Sounds like a wonderful collection!
Nymeth
July 15th, 2010 @ 7:36 am

He really is surprisingly accessible. What a pity my anthology didn’t have any of these stories. I need to get my hands on this edition.
Novel Insights
July 15th, 2010 @ 1:26 pm

I’ve never read any Chekhov, but would like to. This sounds like a great snapshot of his writing. I did read Turgenev’s First Love when I was younger, and although I can’t remember every detail I do remember that it was beautifully written.
Rebecca Reid
July 15th, 2010 @ 1:33 pm

I like the cover of that — and I love the idea of having his love stories together. I have really enjoy the Chekhov I’ve read. Thanks for sharing on these ones!
Jo
July 15th, 2010 @ 2:39 pm

I’m not generally a short story fan, but you have convinced me to check out this Chekov collection. Thanks for the review!
Tracey
July 18th, 2010 @ 9:43 pm

Cats Eye is wonderful..read it some years ago but I’m going to give it a re-read, hopefully (like you) sitting in the garden on a sunny afternoon…