Like a combination of Dickens, Gogol and the Marx Brothers, these early short stories of Chekhov are masterpieces of rowdy comedy. It is difficult to understand why so very few of them have appeared in English; they include perhaps the best comic writing he ever did, and the title story, ST. PETER’S DAY, almost rises to the height of comic epic as it details the drunken progress of an amateur hunting expedition.

Contents:

• Introduction by Frances H. Jones
• Sketches from the Theatre:
  • He and She
  • The Baron
  • Two Calamities
• The Willow
• The Liberal
• The Woman Who Had No Prejudices
• Marriage for Money
• Appropriate Measures
• The Mask
• Civil Service Exam
• Trifon
• The Delegate
• Tears the World Sees Not
• Reading
• 75,000
• The Conqueror’s Triumph
• The Flying Islands
• The Lady of the Manor
• The Reporter
• A Revolting Tale
• The Village of Green Scythe
• St. Peter’s Day