A man and woman fall in love in a seaside town. The only trouble is, they’re both married to other people.

A schoolmaster is scandalized by his sweetheart riding a bicycle.

A woman falls in love with a series of men, each of whom leave her in different ways.

Chekhov’s stories capture Russian provincial life in the late nineteenth century while Garnett’s translations make these classic works feel as vivid as if they were written yesterday. This exclusive selection by New Yorker writer Janet Malcolm is unmissable for the enthusiast and a brilliant introduction for anyone interested in one of the nineteenth century’s greatest writers.