The Darling and Other Stories

The Darling and Other Stories is a book by Anton Chekhov, first published in 1899. It is the first volume in the thirteen-volume collection The Tales of Chekhov and brings together ten of his most perceptive short stories, each offering a quietly powerful examination of everyday life in late nineteenth-century Russia. Known as a master of the short story, Chekhov focuses less on dramatic plot and more on the inner lives, moral uncertainties, and emotional compromises of ordinary people.

The title story, “The Darling,” centres on Olenka Plemyannikova, a woman whose identity is shaped almost entirely by the men she loves, revealing Chekhov’s subtle exploration of dependence, affection, and self-effacement. Other notable stories include “Ariadne,” in which a narrator reflects on his infatuation with the captivating and manipulative Ariadna Kotlovich, and “Anyuta,” a stark portrayal of a young woman living in hardship with Stepan Klotchkov, a struggling medical student. Across these narratives, Chekhov exposes the quiet sacrifices and unspoken tensions that define personal relationships.

The collection also features stories such as “The House with the Mezzanine” (also known as “An Artist’s Story”), which examines Lydia Volchaninova’s idealism and emotional detachment, and “Three Years,” a longer, psychologically rich tale of marriage, disillusionment, and gradual emotional awakening. Throughout the volume, Chekhov’s restrained prose and compassionate realism illuminate themes of love, loneliness, social responsibility, and the passage of time, making this collection essential reading for anyone interested in classic Russian literature and literary realism.

This translation by Constance Garnett was first published in 1916.