Known most widely for its voluminous novels, Russian literature is also a treasure trove of exquisitely crafted short stories. This course focuses on short works by Anton Chekhov (1860 – 1904), a master of the genre. Chekhov began writing to pay off his father’s debts, to help support his family, and to put himself through medical school. Inspired by the positive response to his early sketches, he continued to hone his literary talents while practicing medicine to become an author of international acclaim. We will explore the worlds Chekhov creates in his small masterpieces to understand why he is cited as an inspiration by a broad range of authors, including Bernard Shaw, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemmingway, Raymond Carver, and Vladimir Nabokov.
Suggested Materials: Anton Chekhov's Selected Stories: A Norton Critical Edition by Anton Chekhov and Cathy Popkin.
NOTE: Please come prepared to discuss Rothschild’s Fiddle at the first class.