This anthology contains several of Chekhov's classic short stories, renowned for their uniqueness of tone and plotting, as translated by Constance Garnett.
Anton Chekhov was famous for his unusual style of writing, in which conventional forms of storytelling were generally disregarded. For his bold departure from literary norms, he remains a distinguished author with a wide following within and outside his home nation of Russia.
Aspects of the titular story The Horse Stealers are inspired by Chekhov's training and career in medicine. The tale opens to Yergunov, who is a hospital assistant with a penchant for drinking. The occurrence of illness in this and other stories is a trope in Chekhov's tales; as a doctor who witnessed and treated illnesses minor and serious, Chekhov felt behooved to feature maladies in his tales. Indeed the second, lengthier story in this anthology - Ward No. 6 - takes place largely within a hospital.
A capable physician, Chekhov nevertheless made little income from his medical knowledge, preferring to treat the poor free of charge and concentrate on plays and stories as a means of living. His unusual and innovative manner of writing inspired many modern short story writers of the 20th century, and his impact upon fiction is felt to this day.
