CHEKHOV, ANTON PAVLOVICH. Letters of Anton Tchekhov to his family and friends; tr. from the Russian by Constance Garnett. *$3 Macmillan
20–5392
“The family of Anton Chekhov, the Russian novelist, has published 1890 of his letters. From this great mass of correspondence Mrs Garnett has selected for translation those passages which seem to her to throw most light on the novelist’s life, character and opinions. A biographical sketch, taken from the memoirs written by Chekhov’s brother, introduces the volume.”—R of Rs
“The publication of this volume of his letters affords an opportunity for the examination of some of the chief constituents of his perfect art. These touch us nearly because the supreme interest of Tchekhov is that he is the only great modern artist in prose. As we read these letters of his, we feel gradually from within ourselves the conviction that he was a hero—more than that, the hero of our time.” J. M. M.
+ Ath p299 Mr 5 ’20 1400w
“A secondary interest is the continuous passage of scenes of Russian life in all their fascinating variety.”
+ Booklist 16:279 My ’20 + Cleveland p84 O ’20 70w
“It may be said that the letters of Chekhov are at first sight disappointing. They corroborate only faintly and unemphatically the life so vivid in outline. Either they have been subjected to a drastic process of selection and expurgation, or they represent the reduction of experience to an even, neutral tone of objective observation, of detachment, almost of indifference. Both explanations are doubtless in a measure true. Among letter-writers he belongs to the school of Prosper Merimée rather than Stevenson.” R. M. Lovett
+ − Dial 68:626 My ’20 1900w