Many of Anton Chekhov’s stories deal with the struggles of the Russian working class. Some, like The Looking Glass and Misery, are quite depressing. This story, which deals with the themes of greed, prejudice and death, includes elements of dark humour and ends on a positive note. Yakov the coffin-builder measures his success by missed moneymaking opportunities. His only happiness is his violin, which he plays in a village band. When his wife dies, he regrets not having done more to enjoy life. He makes some amends on his deathbed by leaving his violin to a most unlikely person.
Rothschild’s Fiddle Full Text / PDF / Audio (4,200 words)