46 pages • 1 hour read
The Cherry Orchard
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Book Brief
64
Play • Fiction
Russia • Early 20th Century
1904
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Written in 1903 and first performed in 1904, The Cherry Orchard is the final work by acclaimed Russian playwright and author Anton Chekhov. Considered a classic of modern theater, the play tells the story of Lubov Andreyevna Ranevsky, an aristocratic Russian landowner who returns home after spending five years in Paris. She discovers that her family’s estate and renowned cherry orchard must be sold to cover debts. The enterprising merchant Lopakhin offers Lubov a plan to save the estate by parceling the land and building villas that can be sold to the newly emerging middle class. However, she ignores his advice, and eventually, Lopakhin buys the estate during an auction, coming to own the land where his father and grandfather once labored as enslaved serfs. Filled with both comedy and tragedy, the play offers a portrait of the shifting social class structure in late 19th-century Russia while exploring themes of loss, social change, and the power of nostalgia. The source text mentions death by suicide.
Melancholic
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
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Review Roundup
Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard is lauded for its rich character development and profound exploration of social change. Critics appreciate its blend of comedy and tragedy, though some find the pacing slow and the plot meandering. Overall, it remains a compelling study of human nature and societal shifts, resonating across generations.
Who Should Read The Cherry Orchard?
A reader who would enjoy The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is likely someone who appreciates classic literature, intricate character studies, and societal commentary. Fans of works such as Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy or The Seagull by Chekhov himself will find similar themes of change, loss, and the passage of time compelling in this play.
42,034 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Ermolai Alexeyevitch Lopakhin
Ermolai Alexeyevitch Lopakhin
A wealthy merchant and son of former serfs, caught between his desire to help Lubov and his ambitions for self-advancement.
Anya
Anya
The youthful and charming daughter of Lubov, who arrives from Paris and begins to accept her family's changing social position.
Varya
Varya
Lubov’s practical and responsible adopted daughter, managing the estate with increasing difficulty and dreaming of a different future.
Leonid Andreyevitch Gaev
Leonid Andreyevitch Gaev
Lubov’s brother, known for his humorous speeches and love for billiards, who faces the challenge of adapting to a new social role.
Peter Sergeyevitch Trofimov
Peter Sergeyevitch Trofimov
A former tutor and philosophical student, providing commentary on the play's broader themes and becoming close to Anya.
Fiers
Fiers
An elderly servant loyal to the old ways, reflecting resistance to the modernization surrounding him.
Charlotta Ivanovna
Charlotta Ivanovna
Anya’s unconventional governess, known for her magic tricks and a hidden sense of isolation.
Simeon Panteleyevitch Epikhodov
Simeon Panteleyevitch Epikhodov
The estate's clerk, plagued by constant misfortune and romantic entanglements with Dunyasha.
Dunyasha
Dunyasha
A maid absorbed in her romantic pursuits and self-image, capturing attention more for her behavior than her work.
Yasha
Yasha
Lubov's young valet, returning from Paris and eager to leave traditional Russia behind for the allure of Europe.
64
Play • Fiction
Russia • Early 20th Century
1904
Adult
18+ years
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