The Complete Short Novels

In the stories by Anton Chekhov there is no seriousness of the plot, as in Dostoevsky's novels, but together with simplicity and funny side of everyday life Chekhov's characters are not less dramatic or deep. However, polished sarcasm is not an obstacle for Chekhov to show his characters in a warm and realistic way. There is no grotesque of Saltikov-Schedrin who turns people into images; we can recognise an ordinary modern man on the pages of Chekhov's stories.