The Lady with the Dog (Dama s sobachkoy) was first published in 1899 in The Russian Messenger, during the final years of Anton Chekhov’s life. By that time, Chekhov had already established himself as a master of the short story, and this piece is often regarded as the pinnacle of his late prose.
The story was written while Chekhov was living in Yalta for health reasons, battling the effects of tuberculosis. His time in Crimea, surrounded by seaside promenades and the quiet elegance of resort life, informed the setting of the story and its subdued, reflective atmosphere.
Unlike his earlier stories, which often carried irony or satire, The Lady with the Dog is quiet, melancholic, and emotionally restrained. Chekhov gives voice to characters trapped in lives of quiet dissatisfaction, using subtle narrative shifts and psychological detail rather than plot twists. It was a radical departure from the moralistic storytelling of the time.
Chekhov's portrayal of a middle-aged man experiencing real love for the first time, and a married woman swept into a relationship that challenges her sense of self, was considered bold, even subversive, for the era. Yet it resonated deeply with readers then and continues to feel timeless today.
This ebook preserves the text as it appeared in later Chekhov collections and translations, offering a glimpse into a moment where modern fiction was quietly redefined not through spectacle, but through honesty.
Description:
The Lady with the Dog (Dama s sobachkoy) was first published in 1899 in The Russian Messenger, during the final years of Anton Chekhov’s life. By that time, Chekhov had already established himself as a master of the short story, and this piece is often regarded as the pinnacle of his late prose.
The story was written while Chekhov was living in Yalta for health reasons, battling the effects of tuberculosis. His time in Crimea, surrounded by seaside promenades and the quiet elegance of resort life, informed the setting of the story and its subdued, reflective atmosphere.
Unlike his earlier stories, which often carried irony or satire, The Lady with the Dog is quiet, melancholic, and emotionally restrained. Chekhov gives voice to characters trapped in lives of quiet dissatisfaction, using subtle narrative shifts and psychological detail rather than plot twists. It was a radical departure from the moralistic storytelling of the time.
Chekhov's portrayal of a middle-aged man experiencing real love for the first time, and a married woman swept into a relationship that challenges her sense of self, was considered bold, even subversive, for the era. Yet it resonated deeply with readers then and continues to feel timeless today.
This ebook preserves the text as it appeared in later Chekhov collections and translations, offering a glimpse into a moment where modern fiction was quietly redefined not through spectacle, but through honesty.