Book excerpt: From one of Russia’s greatest writers, Anton Chekhov, an indispensable collection of stories, full of humor, truth, and vast insight, selected and introduced by modern American virtuoso Richard Ford, available in a deluxe paperback edition—part of the Ecco Art of the Story series. One of the most beloved Russian writers, Anton Chekov had an indelible influence on many revered modern writers, including Richard Ford, Raymond Carver, Robert Stone, Nadine Gordimer, William Maxwell, and Ernest Hemingway. In this superb anthology, Ford, a master of short fiction in his own right, has chosen twenty of his personal favorites from among more than two hundred of Chekhov’s tales and short novels. Though they were composed more than a century ago, Chekhov’s stories hold timeless lessons and insights invaluable in our own age. The Essential Tales of Chekhov Deluxe Edition includes familiar masterpieces “The Kiss,” “The Darling,” and “The Lady with the Dog,” as well as several brilliant lesser-known tales—“A Blunder,” “Hush!,” and “Champagne.” These stories, ordered chronologically from 1886 to 1899, are drawn from Chekhov’s most fruitful years as a short story writer. The translation is done by the renowned Constance Garnett, who also brought Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev to the English-speaking world.