The Bet: Short Story

Anton Chekhov

Jul 2015 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

At a banker’s party fifteen years ago, a young lawyer defends the position that life in prison is far less humane than capital punishment. The banker disagrees and proposes they bet—two million rubles in exchange for fifteen years of solitary confinement. The terms of their agreement allow the lawyer to have access to books, food, and wine, and over the course of his imprisonment, he reads widely. Nearing the end of the fifteen years, the banker comes to realize that he will be ruined by the lawyer’s winning of the bet, and both men find their lives changed by the lessons that the bet has taught them.

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Ratings and reviews

I read this story, when I was in my 9th standard. This story was a part of my syllabus back then. This story...its interesting tracks...the suspense...All of it has fascinated me since then....till now. It's an amazing story which proves that a pure soul n knowledge always are the best in any ones life. 10+ stars to this story... which is very close to my heart.. n will be the NUMBER 1 story for me forever n ever n ever!!!!!!!................

Great read, great lessons, mind-opener

Absolute wonderdul. Anton Chekhov at his best.

About the author

Anton Chekhov was born in Taganrog, in southern Russia, and in his youth paid for his own education and supported his entire family by writing short, satirical sketches of Russian life. Though he eventually became a physician and once considered medicine his principal career, he continued to gain popularity and praise as a writer for various Russian newspapers, eventually authoring more literary work and ultimately his most well-known plays, including Ivanov, The Seagull, and Uncle Vanya. He died of tuberculosis in 1904, and is regarded as one of the best short story writers in history, influencing such authors as Ernest Hemingway, Vladimir Nabokov, and Raymond Carver.