| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Product Description
Review
“Stephen’s voice is so full of character and emotion that he brings these stories to life. And, obviously, they are read by a Great Britain (meant in every sense of the word), so Wilde’s stories are brought back where they belong and have been acceptedwith open arms”
“No one else could bring these stories to life like Stephen Fry. truly wonderful”
Product Description
Immerse yourself in a world where the wonderful Stephen Fry reads some of the more memorable short stories of our time. A brilliant combination of reader and writer come together in these seven short stories available on digital download only.
Immerse yourself in a world where the wonderful Stephen Fry reads some of the more memorable short stories of our time. Stephen's voice takes you into a different kind of listening experience, enabling you to imagine narrative, settings, places and people with vivid colour and meaning.
Enjoy the work of one of the most celebrated writers in world literature – Russian playwright and short story writer Anton Chekov. A brilliant combination of reader and writer come together in these seven short stories available on digital download only.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Chekhov is said to be one of the World's most admired playwrights/ authors among thespians. Part of the reason for this is that few have read him & he sounds bewilderingly hard to get into (similar to the reputation of James Joyce or Dostoyevsky).
The fact is that he isn't really that daunting and his short stories are accessible & often fun. Couple this with having the Master of Eloquent Simplification reading it (and a good translater in Constance Garnet) and you will find that this CD makes an excellent introduction to Chekhov.
The 2 CD's cover 7 stories of about 5-15 minutes each (Story 5, though, is 40 minutes). As no listing is available, I will detail them here.
1. AN AVENGER.
This first story is typical dark Russian humour. The story involves a man called Sergeyev talking to a shop-man in a Gun Shop about buying a gun so he can get revenge on his adulterous wife. Personally, I found this story quite insightful into late Tsarist Russia, with the Gun Shop owner grumbling about Import Duties & saying 'I'm a Conservative but...'
2. A BLUNDER.
Much lighter than the first story & more farcical. A Mother & Father plot to wave an 'Icon' above their daughter & one of her suitors in order that the suitor is forced to marry him. The results are interesting...
3. BOYS.
Velodya returns to his family home with a strange visitor. The two plot to join the Californian Gold Rush.
4. THE HUNTSMAN.
I found this my favourite story on CD 1, as it involves a Rogueish fellow called Yeagor Vlasic speaking with a Peasant woman he was forced to marry when drunk. The interplay of grumpy Bad-Boy & doting wife was both amusing & also somewhat sad.
5. THE LADY AND THE DOG.
The longest story is a soulful love story set in Yalta (as in the Yalta Conference) between two separately married people called Gurov & Anna Sergeyevna.
Gurov is an aging ladies man who has never really been in love, but finds something compelling about Mrs Sergeyevna & this story details their affair. I'd rank this as the best story of the lot & I found it similar to 'Brief Encounter'.
6. MISERY.
Obviously this is a sad story, though it is still interesting. A Cabman called Eona has had his son die & feels misery so immense that "if his heart were to burst, it would flood the whole World". The story involves him trying to find empathy & solace amongst harsh Moscovite cab fares.
7. OYSTERS.
An amusing story to end. A 8 year old son of a beggar sees a sign saying 'Oysters' & fantasizes about what they might look like, with amusing results.
One thing I would say is that it did take me two listens of both CD's to really get into the stories, so this is not for those who want easy, light reading.
However, when compared to Dickens, it is light as a Fairy Cake.
Overall these CD's were a rewarding experience. I would say though that 7 stories (& 80 minutes of material) is a bit mean on the part of the CD makers. There is also the fact that Stephen Fry has recorded better audio CD's (e.g. Stephen Fry Presents - Children's Stories by Oscar Wilde & Fry and Laurie Read Daudet and Jerome), which are worth trying before this as they are simpler & more complete.
Still, if you want to gain a foothold in the World of Chekhov, then there are few better places to start than this book. Unless, of course, you happen to be a Russian Bear...
The fact is that he isn't really that daunting and his short stories are accessible & often fun. Couple this with having the Master of Eloquent Simplification reading it (and a good translater in Constance Garnet) and you will find that this CD makes an excellent introduction to Chekhov.
The 2 CD's cover 7 stories of about 5-15 minutes each (Story 5, though, is 40 minutes). As no listing is available, I will detail them here.
1. AN AVENGER.
This first story is typical dark Russian humour. The story involves a man called Sergeyev talking to a shop-man in a Gun Shop about buying a gun so he can get revenge on his adulterous wife. Personally, I found this story quite insightful into late Tsarist Russia, with the Gun Shop owner grumbling about Import Duties & saying 'I'm a Conservative but...'
2. A BLUNDER.
Much lighter than the first story & more farcical. A Mother & Father plot to wave an 'Icon' above their daughter & one of her suitors in order that the suitor is forced to marry him. The results are interesting...
3. BOYS.
Velodya returns to his family home with a strange visitor. The two plot to join the Californian Gold Rush.
4. THE HUNTSMAN.
I found this my favourite story on CD 1, as it involves a Rogueish fellow called Yeagor Vlasic speaking with a Peasant woman he was forced to marry when drunk. The interplay of grumpy Bad-Boy & doting wife was both amusing & also somewhat sad.
5. THE LADY AND THE DOG.
The longest story is a soulful love story set in Yalta (as in the Yalta Conference) between two separately married people called Gurov & Anna Sergeyevna.
Gurov is an aging ladies man who has never really been in love, but finds something compelling about Mrs Sergeyevna & this story details their affair. I'd rank this as the best story of the lot & I found it similar to 'Brief Encounter'.
6. MISERY.
Obviously this is a sad story, though it is still interesting. A Cabman called Eona has had his son die & feels misery so immense that "if his heart were to burst, it would flood the whole World". The story involves him trying to find empathy & solace amongst harsh Moscovite cab fares.
7. OYSTERS.
An amusing story to end. A 8 year old son of a beggar sees a sign saying 'Oysters' & fantasizes about what they might look like, with amusing results.
One thing I would say is that it did take me two listens of both CD's to really get into the stories, so this is not for those who want easy, light reading.
However, when compared to Dickens, it is light as a Fairy Cake.
Overall these CD's were a rewarding experience. I would say though that 7 stories (& 80 minutes of material) is a bit mean on the part of the CD makers. There is also the fact that Stephen Fry has recorded better audio CD's (e.g. Stephen Fry Presents - Children's Stories by Oscar Wilde & Fry and Laurie Read Daudet and Jerome), which are worth trying before this as they are simpler & more complete.
Still, if you want to gain a foothold in the World of Chekhov, then there are few better places to start than this book. Unless, of course, you happen to be a Russian Bear...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Some might think of Russian authors as being heavy going and that you would need to set aside days at a time to get through their works. But not this set of short stories, I took the plunge because seeing Stephen Fry on the box cover encouraged me to take the plunge and try some Chekov. Well what a joy it is to listen to Fry's characterful narration. Worth every penny of this mid-price set and it will out a smile on your face right from the first paragraph. Try it, you won't be disappointed.
Format:Audio CD
I bought this item as a christmas present for my son but he already has this therefore it is no good & still in its original packaging
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
