The Chorus Girl and Other Stories

The Chorus Girl and Other Stories is a short story collection by Anton Chekhov, first published in 1899. This volume, the eighth in the Tales of Chekhov, gathers twelve classic Russian short stories that explore moral conflict, social tension, and the quiet tragedies of everyday life in late nineteenth-century Russia.

Among the most notable pieces is “The Chorus Girl,” in which the singer Pasha is confronted by the furious wife of her admirer, exposing themes of jealousy, vulnerability, and misplaced blame. In “Rothschild’s Fiddle,” the coffin maker Yakov Ivanov undergoes a profound moral reckoning after the death of his wife, revealing Chekhov’s subtle examination of prejudice, regret, and redemption. “My Life” follows the idealistic Misail Poloznev as he rejects conventional success to pursue manual labour, challenging rigid social hierarchies. Stories such as “A Gentleman Friend,” “On the Road,” and “Ivan Matveyitch” further illustrate Chekhov’s mastery of character-driven fiction, blending irony, psychological realism, and understated emotional depth.

Chekhov, a central figure in Russian literature and modern short fiction, is known for his economical prose and nuanced portrayals of human weakness and compassion. This collection presents a range of domestic drama, social commentary, and introspective narrative, making it essential reading for those interested in classic literature, Russian realism, and literary short stories. The Chorus Girl and Other Stories remains a significant entry in the Tales of Chekhov series and a compelling introduction to his enduring work.

This translation by Constance Garnett was first published in 1920.