Maxim Gorky said that no one understood the tragedy of life's trivialities as clearly as Anton Chekhov, widely considered the father of the modern short story and the modern play. Chekhov's singular ability to speak volumes with a single, impeccably chosen word, mesh comedy and pathos, and capture life's basic sadness as he entertains us, are why so many aspire to emulate him. How to Write Like Chekhov meticulously cherry-picks from Chekhov's plays, stories, and letters to his publisher, brother, and friends, offering suggestions and observations on subjects including plot and...

An electric, definite anthology of writings set at the seashore, this book brings together, for the first time, the very best in beach-set literary tradition, including stories, novel excerpts, and narrative nonfiction.