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Annotated by:
- Coulehan, Jack
- Date of entry: Apr-21-2004
Summary
Vladimir Semyonich Liadovsky fancies himself a literary man; he writes book reviews. His sister, Vera Semyonovna, is a young widowed physician who doesn't practice. She lives with Vladimir and does nothing but lie around and wonder, "What is the meaning of non-resistance to evil?" As she becomes more obsessed with this question, her relationship with her brother worsens.
Finally, she abruptly announces that she is leaving--she will go into the provinces to do vaccination work. Vladimir doesn't regret her leaving. He continues to write his articles, falls ill, and dies. The narrator doesn't know what happened to Vera.
Miscellaneous
First published: 1886. Translated by Constance Garnet.
Primary Source
The Tales of Chekhov, Vol. 2: The Duel and Other Stories
Publisher
Ecco
Place Published
New York
Edition
1984
Commentary