Over the years, I’ve encountered this short story several times in my reading travels. It appears in a collection of Chekhov short stories that I own, and also was a “model” story (Chekhov is almost universally considered a master of the form) in a textbook on writing fiction that is in my library. It also appears, along with a couple other Chekhov gems, in my weightiest short story anthology, the > 1400-page “The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction,” edited by R.V. cassill. And just lately, I’ve begun participating in an Indianapolis chapter of the “Great Books” reading group, where I was delighted to learn that this story was on tap as their April discussion topic.
(below: my slightly dog-eared copy of the Norton Anthology)
“What encounters life offers!”
So exclaims Dmitry Dmitrich Gurov just a few pages into the famous short story, “The Lady with the Pet Dog” (the title also appears in some places as just “The Lady with the Dog” – not sure which is the original). Dmitry is a well-to-do Russian businessman approaching, or maybe adjusting to, middle age. At the start of this story, he is on holiday in Yalta, and begins to grow curious about a new arrival at the resort, known at first to the other vacationers as simply The Lady with the Pet Dog.
Dmitry, who is unhappily married, (of his wife, we are told “he privately considered her of limited intelligence, narrow-minded, and dowdy” and that “he was afraid of her, and did not like to be at home.”) frequently indulges in extra-marital affairs and resolves that the title character in the story, whose name we learn is Anna Sergeyevna, will be added to his list of conquests, even though she is also a married woman – just vacationing alone.
Though he doesn’t think there is anything particularly special about Anna (indeed, the reader is not led to believe there is either), it slowly becomes clear that this dalliance will not end as easily as all the others have. When the two must part, Dmitry assumes the effect she has on him will wear off with time, but finds out otherwise.
How both Dimtry and Anna choose to deal with their difficult and unexpected situation is what drives the rest of the story. Does Dmitry, ostensibly “in love” for the first time, become a changed man and learn his lesson about philandering? (when this “take” on the story was proposed at our discussion, one of the female members of the group proclaimed, “Baloney!”) Will Anna leave her (also unhappy) marriage and find a way to be with Dmitry?
For my part, I really enjoyed the story (again, as it was not my first reading). As a now middle-aged man myself (though NOT a philanderer like Dmitry), I found some parts of the story resoundingly poignant, as he realizes he has begun to grow old and gray. Give this story a try if you have a spare 20-30 minutes some time. One place you can read it for free on line is here.
What do you think of Chekhov? Is he one of the greatest short story writers of all time? Who else would you put on that list?
(below: a young Anton Chekhov)
