At Christmas Time (Garnett Translation)
The story revolves around a young woman who returns to her family's estate after being away for several years. She brings with her a suitor, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that he is not well-suited to the rural lifestyle and the woman's family does not approve of him. As Christmas approaches, tensions rise between the woman and her family, particularly her mother, who disapproves of the suitor. The woman's feelings for the suitor are also called into question as she begins to see his flaws more clearly. The story explores themes of love, family, and social class, raising questions about the nature of relationships and the constraints placed on individuals by their circumstances.
By Anton Chekhov · First published 1907 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary · 2 chapters · 2,221 words
First lines
"What shall I write? " said Yegor, and he dipped his pen in the ink.
Vasilisa had not seen her daughter for four years. Her daughter Yefimya had gone after her wedding to Petersburg, had sent them two letters, and since then seemed to vanish out of their lives; there had been no sight nor sound of her. And whether the old woman were milking her cow at dawn, or heating her stove, or dozing at night, she was always thinking of one and the same thing -- what was happening to Yefimya, whether she were alive out yonder. She ought to have sent a letter, but the old father could not write, and there was no one to write.
What this Textopian page supports
At Christmas Time (Garnett Translation) is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary, Realism, Short Story
- Length: 2,221 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 51 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At Christmas Time (Garnett Translation) by Anton Chekhov
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deep emotional themes, character development, and social commentary, typical of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative features intense character interactions and emotional conflicts, characteristic of dramatic literature.
- Social Commentary — The story reflects on societal issues, such as family dynamics and the impact of distance on relationships.
- Realism — The depiction of everyday life and ordinary characters aligns with the principles of realism.
Tags
Russian Literature · Short Story · Christmas Theme · Family Drama · Social Commentary · Satire · Irony · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Coming of Age · Small Town Life · Class Conflict
Contents
More by Anton Chekhov
- The Horse-Stealers and Other Stories (1900)
- The Schoolmaster and Other Stories (1900)
- The Party and Other Stories (1900)
- The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories (1900)
- The Bishop and Other Stories (1900)
- The Duel and Other Stories (1900)
- The Schoolmistress and Other Stories (1900)
- The Wife and Other Stories (1900)
- All works by Anton Chekhov