While most people are familiar with Anton Chekhov through his dramas, many believe that the artistry displayed in his short fiction far surpasses that seen in his plays. For this extraordinary collection, Richard Ford has selected 20 of his personal favorites from more than 200 of Chekhov's tales and short novels. Here are familiar masterpieces, such as The Lady with the Dog, as well as several lesser-known works. Ordered chronologically from 1886 lo 1899 and translated by the renowned Constance Garnett, who brought Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, and Turgenev to the English-speaking world, these stories represent Chekhov's most fruitful years as a short-story writer. Indeed, fans of Richard Ford, lovers of short fiction, and readers of classic literature will want The Essential Tales of Chekhov for their permanent collections.