The Princess by Anton Chekhov (1904)

Name: The Princess
Author: Anton Chekhov

The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She struggles with feelings of emptiness and disconnection from her husband, leading to a downward spiral of unhappiness and desperation. The narrative explores themes of love, marriage, and the societal pressures that shape women's lives during this time period.

By Anton Chekhov · First published 1904 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Drama, Social Commentary · 5,694 words

First lines

A carriage with four fine sleek horses drove in at the big so-called Red Gate of the N -- -- Monastery. While it was still at a distance, the priests and monks who were standing in a group round the part of the hostel allotted to the gentry, recognised by the coachman and horses that the lady in the carriage was Princess Vera Gavrilovna, whom they knew very well.

An old man in livery jumped off the box and helped the princess to get out of the carriage. She raised her dark veil and moved in a leisurely way up to the priests to receive their blessing; then she nodded pleasantly to the rest of the monks and went into the hostel.

What this Textopian page supports

The Princess is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anton Chekhov, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
Language: English
Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Drama, Social Commentary, Character Study, Tragedy
Length: 5,694 words
Structure: 1 section, 75 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Princess 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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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering The Princess?
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 themes of identity, social class, and personal introspection, characteristic of literary fiction.
Psychological Drama — The narrative delves into the psychological struggles of the protagonist, revealing her inner conflicts and emotional turmoil.
Social Commentary — The text critiques social hierarchies and the disconnect between the aristocracy and the common people.
Character Study — The focus on the princess's thoughts and interactions provides a deep examination of her character and motivations.