Anton Chekhov is often referred to as the “master of the short story.” He has written hundreds of short stories, plays, and other works of fiction. It was not until years after his death that he achieved international acclaim. However, once his work was translated into English, he became one of the most celebrated authors of our time. In fact, he too can be found on Time Magazine’s list of the ten greatest novels for his collection of short stories.

The first short story we will explore by Chekhov is “The Bet.” This story explores a theme similar to that of Tolstoy’s “God Knows the Truth but Waits.” In this story however the prison sentence is self-imposed. Read the following story and take notes as you read as questions will follow.

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