- A unique collection of Chekhov`s most lyrical stories in a new translation of great skill and originality, published to coincide with the centenary of Chekhov`s death. - This translation captures Chekhov`s musicality and modernism by paying special attention to his tone and prose rhythm - closer to the Russian while shaping the prose idiomatically. - The stories are arranged chronologically to show the evolution of Chekhov`s art and include familiar as well as less well-known works. - Growing interest in Chekhov as a prose writer, evidenced by the attention given to recent publications of Chekhov`s previously unpublished work, and the influence he had had on modern writers such as Katherine Mansfield, John Cheever, and Raymond Carver.