Club Chekhov - All Subtext, No Action

Lev Lesokhin
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Reading, analysis and exploration of the literary oeuvre left to us by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. We will read his standout stories, in English and in his original Russian. We will also discuss some of his most surprising themes as well as notes on the most widely-used translations and what tends to get lost in the process.

  1. Jul 4

    The Darling Discussion

    Another amazing caricature by Chekhov. This time, the empathy dial is turned up to 11 and we get to see the results. The Darling is a woman whose rapturous devotion and need for meaning from relationships has a stroke of familiarity to all of us. Professor Alex Burry and Lev Lesokhin discuss this wonderful tale about a woman who does so much, yet means so little.

    The Darling Discussion

  2. Jun 7

    The Darling

    This is a story of a young woman who gives herself entirely to her love interests. Olenka Plemyannikova loves with her whole being, sacrificing herself entirely to the person she is with - whether it's a husband, a lover or a child. Her level of empathy is insanely high, making her a caricature of codependence that many of us should be able to see, at least slightly, in ourselves. This character study is quintessential Chekhov, as he draws the caricature, injects the story with a bit of humor, and leaves any kind of judgement of Olenka to the reader. Anyone reading this story will recognize the caricature and be able to think of someone they know who suffers a similar ailment, even if to a lesser extent. Translation by Constance Garnett, read from The Portable Chekhov

  3. Jun 5

    Anna on the Neck Discussion

    A well known caricature by Chekhov of a transactional marriage, where the young bride finds her inner power and takes control of the marriage to her wealthy, older husband. Alex and Lev pull this story apart bone by bone to discover its magic and mysteries. It feels like a real Cinderella story - but then, who is the prince? Dial into this discussion to find out!

  4. May 30

    Anna on the Neck

    A somewhat humorous tale of transformation and intrinsic human value coming to the fore. Anna, an 18-year-old girl marries an older man for his status and money, out of love for her father. Her late mother showed her the art of elegance and trained her to act like a lady. When her new husband takes her to her first ball, she has her Cinderella moment and suddenly transforms with far-reaching benefit to everyone involved. This story of loveless marriage is told from Anna's point of view. Chekhov does a brilliant job showing the reader what happens behind the scenes in the head of a young woman. And offers an interesting caricature of a person's strength stemming from their own sense of self worth. Translation by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, read from The Portable Chekhov

  5. Apr 19

    Love Story - The Lady with the Dog

    In this episode, Lev Lesokhin and Professor Alexander Burry dive into Anton Chekhov’s most famous love story —The Lady with the Dog. This is a heartwarming story of hidden romance that sprouts unexpectedly for both protagonists. It was written just as Chekhov himself was finding himself finally headed towards marriage and, uniquely for his time, one based on love. Our hosts discuss everything from the autobiographical overtones found in this magnificent work, to the practical foundations which set the historical context, the way Chekhov describes his scenes in so much detail with so little effort, some notes on its translations into English, and how this story actually shows action and movement on the part of its characters. The conclusions are many, but in the process of discussion we notice several themes and details that one might not pick up when reading this work on their own. This conversation is time well spent for the true Chekhov fan.

  6. Apr 10

    The Lady with the Dog

    Possibly Chekhov's most famous short story. Probably his best love story. It starts as a casual encounter in a seaside resort. It flourishes a couple weeks and seems to be extinguished. But the relationship blossoms quietly as the two people are apart, living their separate lives. It's a story about the nature of love, emotional attachment, the rigid structures of everyday life that get in the way of true love. Despite some autobiographical overtones, it is one of the few Chekhov stories where something DOES happen and people DO change. It has no climax, no judgment, and no tidy ending. But it is as close to a happy ending as one can get in this situation. Translation by Avrahm Yarmolinsky, read from The Portable Chekhov

  7. Mar 22

    The Trilogy (Man in a Case, Gooseberries, About Love) - Part 2

    In this episode, Lev Lesokhin and Alexander Burry conclude the discussion of Anton Chekhov’s “Little Trilogy”—The Man in a Case, Gooseberries, and About Love—and what makes them feel so relevant to our times. They talk about the trilogy’s shared setup. Same characters, same setting -- just people telling each other stories. They zero in on that unmistakable "cringe" factor: Belikov’s suffocating rigidity, and Ivan’s quiet disgust at his brother’s cozy, self-satisfied life. A big theme is what we’d now call “situationships”: awkward, stalled romances where nothing quite happens, from Belikov and Varenka to Alyohin and Anna. That ties into the core idea of “living in a case”. Physically, emotionally and morally. Where politeness, fear, and habit keep people stuck. Along the way, they touch on marriages, Chekhov’s moody settings (rain, darkness), and the idea of “domestic paradise” as its own kind of trap. Overall, it’s a conversation about how Chekhov captures something timeless: people knowing exactly what they want and going about it in their own, awkward ways.

  8. Mar 22

    The Trilogy (Man in a Case, Gooseberries, About Love) - Part 1

    In this episode, Lev Lesokhin and Alexander Burry dive into Anton Chekhov’s “Little Trilogy”—The Man in a Case, Gooseberries, and About Love—and what makes them feel so relevant to our times. They talk about the trilogy’s shared setup. Same characters, same setting -- just people telling each other stories. They zero in on that unmistakable "cringe" factor: Belikov’s suffocating rigidity, and Ivan’s quiet disgust at his brother’s cozy, self-satisfied life. A big theme is what we’d now call “situationships”: awkward, stalled romances where nothing quite happens, from Belikov and Varenka to Alyohin and Anna. That ties into the core idea of “living in a case”. Physically, emotionally and morally. Where politeness, fear, and habit keep people stuck. Along the way, they touch on marriages, Chekhov’s moody settings (rain, darkness), and the idea of “domestic paradise” as its own kind of trap. Overall, it’s a conversation about how Chekhov captures something timeless: people knowing exactly what they want and going about it in their own, awkward ways.

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About

Reading, analysis and exploration of the literary oeuvre left to us by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov. We will read his standout stories, in English and in his original Russian. We will also discuss some of his most surprising themes as well as notes on the most widely-used translations and what tends to get lost in the process.

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