Whilst Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) is perhaps best for his plays such as Uncle Vanya and The Seagull, he was also a prolific author of short stories.

Richard Armitage, whose interest in the work of Chekhov was sparked by his appearance as Astrov in a stage production of Uncle Vanya, also introduces the collection with a brief overview of each of the stories and his thoughts on why Chekhov’s short stories are not to be missed.

The collection contains the following stories:

Ward 6: In a mental asylum, a patient comes into conflict with a director of the institution.

The Kiss: During a party, a man becomes infatuated by a woman who accidentally kisses him in the dark.

Betrothed: A young woman strives to asset her independence by choosing education over an arranged marriage.

The Black Monk: An ageing scholar experiences strange hallucinations. Is he a genius, or is he insane?

Neighbours: A beautiful young woman subverts society expectations by going to live with her neighbour, an older, married man.

The Student: A depressed young student has his spirits lifted by recounting an religious story to two strangers.