The Lady with the Dog

The Lady with the Dog is a short story by Anton Chekhov, first published in 1899. It centers on an affair that begins when a dissatisfied married Moscow banker and a young married woman meet while each is vacationing alone in Yalta. Chekhov keeps the story compact and restrained, focusing on the characters’ emotional states, their routines, and the quiet shift that starts to take shape between them.

This is a good fit for readers who like short fiction that is precise, understated, and psychologically attentive rather than plot-heavy. It also works well as an introduction to Chekhov, since it shows how much he can do with a small number of scenes and a very controlled tone. If you enjoy realistic stories built from observation, hesitation, and small changes in feeling, this one sits right in that space.