Comments on: The Student by Anton Chekhov: A Perfect Short Story

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:41:35 +0000

@Kim: I love the Gutenberg Project! I’m glad you find my posts interesting.

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 19:01:22 +0000

Thanks for pointing out this great short story. The Gutenberg Project is so wonderful. Jessica is right about your posts. They are always so thoughtful and interesting.

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:05:59 +0000

@Jessica:

Wow, that is the nicest compliment you could have given me. Thank you so much. That’s my goal: to be thoughtful about what I read rather than just turning the pages, as I have been. As for the “perfect” short story, I’m realizing these things are all subjective. Even all of HTR&W, of course, is subjective. But I do hope you enjoy the story.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:28:59 +0000

I must admit that I savor your thoughtful HTR&W posts. I love short stories and your announcement that you’d found a perfect one caught my attention. (I also liked your post about varying translations.) I have a Chekhov compilation and have flagged “The Student” for an upcoming afternoon read. Thanks!

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:55:38 +0000

@Graham Storrs:

I should add that I don’t really think there are any rules. But I don’t think many of the classic, great stories probably wouldn’t get much support in today’s best-seller world, including Chekhov!

By: Rebecca Reid

Rebecca Reid — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:29:43 +0000

@Terry Finley: What a goal! I wish you luck. I’m finding reading great literature is a great inspiration. @Graham Storrs: I think there is merit to some of those “how not to start a story” but you’re right, Chekhov would have failed! I think the key is you need to know what the “rules” are before you try to break them. I think Chekhov does a great job!

By: Graham Storrs

Graham Storrs — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:36:27 +0000

Thanks for pointing out this wonderful story. I’ve always loved Chekhov but didn’t know this one. Thanks to Terry Finlay too, who sent me to your post, and, of course, to Project Gutenberg for making it available online.

I read a fairly depressing blog post today called ‘How not to start a story’ (http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-not-to-start-story.html) ‘The Student’ would have failed the test completely and so would many other stories I love (and quite a few I’ve written!)

By: Terry Finley

Terry Finley — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:23:11 +0000

What a great article.
My goal is to write
a perfect short story.