The House with the Mezzanine

Name: The House with the Mezzanine
Author: Anton Chekhov

The House with the Mezzanine is a short story by Anton Chekhov, first published in 1896. It tells the story of a young man, Ivan Matveyevich, who rents a house with a mezzanine in a small provincial town. He is a bachelor and lives alone, but he is visited by his friend, the local doctor, who is also a bachelor. The two men spend their days talking, drinking tea, and playing cards. They also take walks around the town and visit the local sights. One day, Ivan Matveyevich meets a young woman, Anna Sergeyevna, who is visiting the town. He is immediately smitten with her and begins to court her. The story follows the developing relationship between Ivan Matveyevich and Anna Sergeyevna, as well as the changing dynamics between the two men. As the story progresses, Ivan Matveyevich and Anna Sergeyevna's relationship deepens, and the doctor's presence in the house becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Eventually, the doctor leaves, and Ivan Matveyevich and Anna Sergeyevna are married. The House with the Mezzanine is a story about love, friendship, and the changing nature of relationships. It is a classic example of Chekhov's writing, with its subtle humor and insight into human nature.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1900 · Genre: Realism, Drama, Romance · 36 chapters · 63,290 words

First lines

IT was reported that a new face had been seen on the quay; a lady with a little dog. Dimitri Dimitrich Gomov, who had been a fortnight at Talta and had got used to it, had begun to show an interest in new faces. As he sat in the pavilion at VernÃ©'s he saw a young lady, blond and fairly tall, and wearing a broad-brimmed hat, pass along the quay. After her ran a white Pomeranian.

Later he saw her in the park and in the square several times a day. She walked by herself, always in the same broad-brimmed hat, and with this white dog. Nobody knew who she was, and she was spoken of as the lady with the toy dog.

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The House with the Mezzanine is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anton Chekhov, dated 1900 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Anton Chekhov
Date: 1900 CE
Language: English
Genres: Realism, Drama, Romance, Humor
Length: 63,290 words
Structure: 36 chapters, 1,976 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Work identity for The House with the Mezzanine by Anton Chekhov
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The House with the Mezzanine?
How does this novel by Anton Chekhov fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Realism first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Realism — The House with the Mezzanine is a realistic story that focuses on the everyday lives of its characters and the mundane details of their lives.
Drama — The House with the Mezzanine is a dramatic story that explores the inner lives of its characters and the conflicts they face.
Romance — The House with the Mezzanine contains a romantic subplot between two of its characters, which adds an additional layer of complexity to the story.
Humor — The House with the Mezzanine contains humorous moments that provide comic relief and add levity to the story.