A Night in the Cemetery: And Other Stories of Crime and Suspense [Paperback]

Anton Chekhov (Author), Peter Sekirin (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 29, 2009

Anton Chekhov’s only collection of crime and mystery stories.

Considered one of the greatest dramatists of all time, Anton Chekhov began his literary career as a crime and mystery writer. Scattered throughout periodicals and literary journals from 1880-1890, these early psychological suspense stories provide a fresh look into Chekhov’s literary heritage and his formative years as a writer.

In stories like "A Night in the Cemetery," "Night of Horror," and "Murder," not only will Chekhov’s dark humor and twisted crimes satisfy even the most hardboiled of mystery fans, readers will again appreciate the penetrating, absurdist insight into the human condition that only Chekhov can bring. Whether it is the death of a young amateur playwright at the hands of an editor who hates bad writing, or a drunken civil servant who ends up trapped in a graveyard, these stories overflow with the unforgettable characters and unique sensibility that continue to make Chekhov one of the most fascinating figures in literature.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Best known today as a playwright, Chekhov (1860–1904) was also a prolific and accomplished writer of short fiction, as shown by this collection of 42 stories, most of which have previously been unavailable in English translation. As Sekirin notes in the preface, these stories appeared in a variety of periodicals and until now have managed to escape the notice of contemporary editors and translators. Though billed as featuring crime and suspense, the volume has a broad range, including morality tales and stories of both dark and puckish humor. In the amusingly macabre A Night of Horror, a man finds a coffin in his apartment. Task, about a college student and bad checks, has a thoroughly modern ring. A Crime: A Double Murder Case is classic noir. Not all the selections shine, but enough do that the collection should appeal to more than just Chekhov fanatics. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“A fascinating book. It will force us to look at a great writer in a whole new way.” —Otto Penzler

 

“A new collection of forty-two stories, most of which have been previously unavailable in English translation. Amusingly macabre, this book should appeal to more than just Chekhov fans.” —Publishers Weekly

 

“Chekhov has influenced generations of fiction writers through his ability to elevate everyday life through the perceptive beauty of his language, and his skillful portrayal of the moral dilemmas everyone must face.” —Library Journal

 

“Brilliant. A splendidly lightweight collection whose satiric touch is so deft that it seems to be sending up a genre yet unborn.” —Kirkus Reviews

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pegasus; Reprint edition (September 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605980595
• ISBN-13: 978-1605980591
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lighter side of Chekhov, December 17, 2008

By 

J. L. Case (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Night in the Cemetery: And Other Stories of Crime and Suspense (Hardcover)

While not the multi-layered literary masterpieces he is known for, this collection shows a lighter side of Chekhov and gives insight into his formative years as a writer. Additionally, there is no shortage of Chekhov's trademark dark humor, which is one of my favorite things about his work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute "must-have" for mystery and suspense fans of all walks of life, November 13, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Night in the Cemetery: And Other Stories of Crime and Suspense (Paperback)

Now available in paperback, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense collects the classic crime and suspense stories of literary genius Anton Chekhov. Originally published in periodicals and literary journals from 1880-1890, and now expertly translated into English by Peter Sekirin, A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories of Crime and Suspense is seasoned with Chekhov's characteristic dark humor, twists of cause and effect, and shocking moments of revelation. Many of the stories are brief, but all warrant a close reading - A Night in the Cemetery and Other Stories is an absolute "must-have" for mystery and suspense fans of all walks of life, and a superb addition to public library collections.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Get it from the library, October 21, 2008

By 

Dan E. Buoy "theater buff" (OH United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Night in the Cemetery: And Other Stories of Crime and Suspense (Hardcover)

I bought this collection because I love five of Chekhov's full length plays: Ivanov, The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, The Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. The title of these short stories seemed intriguing and promising to me. However, the writing, at least in this translation, is subpar, and were Chekhov not already established, these stories would not have put him on any meaningful map. Interesting from an historical perspective, but not great writing.