A collection of stories mostly written during the early years of Chekhov's "mature" period; the vast majority of these stories having been written between 1884 and 1888. Although to me the best story in the collection is the one written last, A Visit to Friends (1898), that doesn't mean this set feels weak. There's not a bad short in the collection and Chekhov still displays an understanding of the form, even at this still early stage in his career, that few writers have gone on to match. Not every story is a perfect gem but there's not much to criticise either.

All in all: a very good introduction to Chekhov's early serious work, with a nice little piece on his life and career at the back too. ( )