The Reader, a superb film, alludes to the masterful Chekhov story, “The Lady with the Dog,” several times. I concede my appreciation for the acting skills of both Ralph Fiennes and Kate Winslet, and the film The Reader. But my focus here is on the story itself, not the film, which explores different themes altogether.

But it is my love for Chekhov’s story, “The Lady with the Dog,” that inspires this. It is one of the stories I’m currently teaching my university students, in my short story course. There are many true masters of the short story form, and Chekhov remains one of its best exemplars.

The story revolves around an affair of sorts (it’s not prurient) between Gurov and Anna. Both are married to other people. But both Gurov and Anna are caught; they long for something their lives have not satisfied. What it is, exactly, is a profound question for exploration.

If you’ve not read Chekhov in a bit, pick up a volume of his short stories and plays, and discover understated wisdom and beauty.