In the Coach-House by Anton Chekhov

Name: In the Coach-House
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a middle-aged man who has retired from his job and lives with his wife in a small coach-house. He spends most of his time reading and daydreaming about the past, while his wife tries to keep him occupied with household chores. The man's nostalgia for his youth is contrasted with the reality of his current life, highlighting the themes of aging, loneliness, and the decline of one's physical and mental abilities.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1887 · Genre: Drama, Tragedy, Realism · 2,921 words

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First lines

It was between nine and ten o'clock in the evening. Stepan the coachman, Mihailo the house-porter, Alyoshka the coachman's grandson, who had come up from the village to stay with his grandfather, and Nikandr, an old man of seventy, who used to come into the yard every evening to sell salt herrings, were sitting round a lantern in the big coach-house, playing "kings. " Through the wide-open door could be seen the whole yard, the big house, where the master's family lived, the gates, the cellars, and the porter's lodge. It was all shrouded in the darkness of night, and only the four windows of one of the lodges which was let were brightly lit up. The shadows of the coaches and sledges with their shafts tipped upwards stretched from the walls to the doors, quivering and cutting across the shadows cast by the lantern and the players. On the other side of the thin partition that divided the coach-house from the stable were the horses. There was a scent of hay, and a disagreeable smell of salt herrings coming from old Nikandr.

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Genres

Drama — The work explores intense emotional themes and character interactions, focusing on the human condition and societal issues.
Tragedy — The narrative involves a tragic event, the suicide of a character, and the subsequent impact on those around him.
Realism — The depiction of everyday life and the struggles of common people reflects a realistic portrayal of society.
Social Commentary — The story critiques social norms and the consequences of personal actions within a community.

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In the Coach-House is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1887 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: 1887 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Tragedy, Realism, Social Commentary, Psychological
Length: 2,921 words
Structure: 1 section, 73 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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