Quotes from book
In the Ravine

Anton Chekhov Original title В овраге (Russian, 1900)

"In the Ravine" is a 1900 story by Anton Chekhov first published in the No.1, January issue of Zhizn magazine.

Anton Chekhov photo

“Somewhere far away a bittern cried, a hollow, melancholy sound like a cow shut up in a barn. The cry of that mysterious bird was heard every spring, but no one knew what it was like or where it lived. At the top of the hill by the hospital, in the bushes close to the pond, and in the fields the nightingales were trilling. The cuckoo kept reckoning someone's years and losing count and beginning again. In the pond the frogs called angrily to one another, straining themselves to bursting, and one could even make out the words: "That's what you are! That's what you are!" What a noise there was! It seemed as though all these creatures were singing and shouting so that no one might sleep on that spring night, so that all, even the angry frogs, might appreciate and enjoy every minute: life is given only once.”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 8, pp. 224

Anton Chekhov photo

“Crutch is coming! Crutch! The old horseradish.”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 5, p. 206

Anton Chekhov photo

“"Why did you marry me into this family, mother?" said Lipa.
"One has to be married, daughter. It was not us who ordained it."”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 5, pp. 212

Anton Chekhov photo

“Yes, that's how it is, child. He who works, he who is patient is the superior.”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 5, pp. 208

Anton Chekhov photo

“"Why do I love him so much, mamma? Why do I feel so sorry for him?" she went on in a quivering voice, and her eyes glistened with tears. "Who is he? What is he like? As light as a little feather, as a little crumb, but I love him; I love him like a real person. Here he can do nothing, he can't talk, and yet I know what he wants with his little eyes."”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 6, pp. 216

Anton Chekhov photo

“"Grigory Petrovitch, let us weep, let us weep with joy!" he said in a thin voice, and then at once burst out laughing in a loud bass guffaw. "Ho-ho-ho! This is a fine daughter-in-law for you too! Everything is in its place in her; all runs smoothly, no creaking, the mechanism works well, lots of screws in it."”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 3, pp. 193-4

Anton Chekhov photo

“Grigory Petrovitch, let us weep, let us weep with joy!”

Anton Chekhov book In the Ravine

he said in a thin voice, and then at once burst out laughing in a loud bass guffaw. "Ho-ho-ho! This is a fine daughter-in-law for you too! Everything is in its place in her; all runs smoothly, no creaking, the mechanism works well, lots of screws in it."
Source: In the Ravine (1900), Ch. 3, pp. 193-4

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