The Darling by Anton Chekhov (Audiobook with English Subtitles)

"The Darling" (Russian: Душечка, romanized: Dushechka) is a short story by Russian author Anton Chekhov, first published in Semya (Family) Magazine on January 3, 1899, in Moscow. It was later included in Volume 9 of Chekhov’s Collected Works, published by Adolf Marks. The story follows Olenka Plemyannikova, a gentle, compassionate woman who is called "darling" for her sweet and submissive nature. Throughout her life, she devotes herself completely to the men she loves—Kukin, Pustovalov, Smirnin, and finally Smirnin’s son, Sasha. Each attachment consumes her so fully that she adopts their thoughts and opinions as her own, leaving her without an independent identity. This tale highlights Chekhov’s gift for psychological depth, exploring themes of love, dependency, identity, and the human longing for connection. Main Characters: Olenka (Olga Semyonovna Plemyannikova): The "darling," compassionate and easily influenced. Ivan Petrovich Kukin: Olenka’s first husband, a theater owner. Vassily Andreitch Pustovalov: Timber merchant and Olenka’s second husband. Vladimir Platonitch Smirnin: Veterinary surgeon, separated from his wife. Sasha: Smirnin’s son, the final object of Olenka’s devotion. Tags: #AntonChekhov #TheDarling #Dushechka #RussianClassics #ChekhovAudiobook #PublicDomainAudiobook #ClassicLiterature #ShortStoryAudiobook #EnglishSubtitles #RussianLiterature