THIS WEEK'S BOOKS
THERE have already been at least two selections from Anton Chekhov's letters published in English; birt it seems that they :are an inexhaustible mine. Miss Louis S. Friedlaiid has selected his Letters on Literature (Geoffrey Bles), in Which - Chekhov gives hig opinions on short-story writing, on his own works, and on the works of. hii contemporaries. His opinions upon the craft of the short-story are bound to be interesting. For the rest, we shall read the book more for examples of Chekhov's quickness of sight and amiable integrity of character than in hopes of finding any explorations in criticism. His kind, agnostic, gentle spirit disabled him from any vigour of reaction to ideas ; his imagination was concrete only.. But it is always refreshing to read his letters, and to meet him again, so puzzled and so anxious never to misrepresent his feelings or his sensations, never to lie to himself.
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