A Swim in a Pond in the Rain (In the Cart - Chekhov)

“A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” - a New York Times Bestseller - is a collection of short stories by Russian literary greats.

In this meetup, we’ll be covering the short story, ‘In the Cart’ by Anton Chekhov and the accompanying essay by George Saunders’. The story that revolves around Marya Vasilyevna, a schoolmistress, and her reflections on her mundane and unfulfilled life during a long, introspective carriage ride through the countryside.

George Saunders won the Booker for ”Lincoln in the Bardo” in 2017. I thought that Booker fiction fans would benefit from this literary criticism on the craft of the short story.

“A Swim in a Pond in the Rain” is a profound literary master class and an insightful exploration into the mechanics great storytelling. For two decades, Saunders has imparted his wisdom on the MFA Creative Writing programme at Syracuse University. In this book, he extends this knowledge to a wider audience, offering insights gained from his years of teaching.

Saunders delves into seven iconic works of short stories by Russian literary giants such as Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol. The stories are interspersed with essays that are not just for literary scholars, but accessible for anyone curious about the enduring relevance and power of fiction.

A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is about becoming a better, more aware reader of fiction.

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