The Shooting Party

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Excerpt:

“On an April day of the year 1880 the doorkeeper Audrey came into my private room and told me in a mysterious whisper that a gentleman had come to the editorial office and demanded insistently to see the editor. 'He appears to be a chinovnik,' Andrey added. 'He has a cockade…' 'Ask him to come another time,' I said, 'I am busy today. Tell him the editor only receives on Saturdays.' 'He was here the day before yesterday and asked for you. He says his business is urgent. He begs, almost with tears in his eyes, to see you. He says he is not free on Saturday… Will you receive him?'” (The Shooting Party, 1884)

The Shooting Party is a triangular love story-cum-murder mystery novel and Chekhov's only novel. Not many people are aware of the fact that before becoming the celebrated short story writer and playwright he tried his hands at novel writing. One can witness the birth of Chekhov's unique style (although in its infancy) for which he would be later remembered for.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian physician, dramaturge and author who is often referred to as one of the seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. He made no apologies for the difficulties he posed to the readers, insisting that the role of an artist was to ask questions, not to answer them.