Bad Weather

Written by Anton Chekhov

Narrated by Max Bollinger

In the short story "Bad Weather" by Anton Chekhov, a rainy summer day sets the stage for a series of misunderstandings and emotional turmoil within a family. The story revolves around Kvashin, a lawyer, his wife Nadyezhda Filippovna, and his mother-in-law. As the rain pours outside, Kvashin stays in the town due to his aversion to bad weather. Left alone, Nadyezhda and her mother spend their time playing cards and worrying about Kvashin's well-being. The mother-in-law is concerned about Kvashin's absence and believes that the weather is a punishment from God. Nadyezhda expresses her worry for her husband, lamenting the fact that he is alone without any domestic help in their town apartment. They both long for his presence and decide that Nadyezhda will travel to the town the next day to check on him. "Bad Weather" portrays the complexities of human relationships and the fragility of trust. It highlights how external circumstances, such as bad weather, can influence emotions and actions, leading to misunderstandings and deception. Chekhov's masterful storytelling captures the nuances of human behavior and the power dynamics within a family, leaving the reader pondering the consequences of such deceitful acts. Read in English, unabridged.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Interactive Media
• Release date: Feb 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781911263128

Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian doctor, short-story writer, and playwright. Born in the port city of Taganrog, Chekhov was the third child of Pavel, a grocer and devout Christian, and Yevgeniya, a natural storyteller. His father, a violent and arrogant man, abused his wife and children and would serve as the inspiration for many of the writer’s most tyrannical and hypocritical characters. Chekhov studied at the Greek School in Taganrog, where he learned Ancient Greek. In 1876, his father’s debts forced the family to relocate to Moscow, where they lived in poverty while Anton remained in Taganrog to settle their finances and finish his studies. During this time, he worked odd jobs while reading extensively and composing his first written works. He joined his family in Moscow in 1879, pursuing a medical degree while writing short stories for entertainment and to support his parents and siblings. In 1876, after finishing his degree and contracting tuberculosis, he began writing for St. Petersburg’s Novoye Vremya, a popular paper which helped him to launch his literary career and gain financial independence. A friend and colleague of Leo Tolstoy, Maxim Gorky, and Ivan Bunin, Chekhov is remembered today for his skillful observations of everyday Russian life, his deeply psychological character studies, and his mastery of language and the rhythms of conversation.