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Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

Letters of Anton Chekhov (Tchekhov) - Penn State University

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<strong>Letters</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Anton</strong> <strong>Chekhov</strong> to His Family and Friends with biographical sketchTO A. N. PLESHTCHEYEV.MOSCOW, September 30, 1889.… I do not think I ought to change the title <strong>of</strong> the story.* Thewags who will, as you foretell, make jokes about “A Dreary Story,”are so dull that one need not fear them; and if someone makes agood joke I shall be glad to have given him the occasion for it. Thepr<strong>of</strong>essor could not write about Katya’s husband because he did notknow him, and Katya does not say anything about him; besides,one <strong>of</strong> my hero’s chief characteristics is that he cares far too littleabout the inner life <strong>of</strong> those who surround him, and while peoplearound him are weeping, making mistakes, telling lies, he calmlytalks about the theatre or literature. Were he a different sort <strong>of</strong> man,Liza and Katya might not have come to grief.*“A Dreary Story.”118

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