An Artist's Story by Anton Chekhov

Name: An Artist's Story
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young artist who returns to his hometown after years abroad and becomes infatuated with a local woman. He sees her as the embodiment of beauty and purity, but she is actually a prostitute. The artist's perception of reality is distorted by his own desires and biases, leading him to idealize this woman and ignore the harsh realities of her situation.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1883 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama · 4 chapters · 8,602 words

First lines

It was six or seven years ago when I was living in one of the districts of the province of T -- -- , on the estate of a young landowner called Byelokurov, who used to get up very early, wear a peasant tunic, drink beer in the evenings, and continually complain to me that he never met with sympathy from anyone. He lived in the lodge in the garden, and I in the old seigniorial house, in a big room with columns, where there was no furniture except a wide sofa on which I used to sleep, and a table on which I used to lay out patience. There was always, even in still weather, a droning noise in the old Amos stoves, and in thunderstorms the whole house shook and seemed to be cracking into pieces; and it was rather terrifying, especially at night, when all the ten big windows were suddenly lit up by lightning.

What this Textopian page supports

An Artist's Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1883 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1883 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Drama, Romance, Social Commentary
Length: 8,602 words
Structure: 4 chapters, 116 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering An Artist's Story?
How does this short story by Anton Chekhov fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Literary Fiction — The work explores complex characters and their emotional landscapes, focusing on personal and social themes.
Realism — The narrative presents a realistic portrayal of life, social issues, and the struggles of the characters within their environment.
Drama — The story contains dramatic elements, including interpersonal conflicts and emotional tensions among the characters.
Romance — There are romantic undertones, particularly in the relationships between the protagonist and the two sisters.