The Black Monk

The Black Monk is a novella written by Anton Chekhov, one of the most celebrated Russian writers of the late 19th century. The story follows the life of a young man named Andrey Vasil'ich Kovrin, who is a brilliant scholar and a promising intellectual. However, he is haunted by the memory of a black monk that he saw during a childhood illness.As he grows older, Kovrin becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of the black monk and begins to see him again. He becomes convinced that the monk is a symbol of his own genius and that he is destined for greatness. However, as his obsession grows, Kovrin's mental health begins to deteriorate, and he becomes increasingly isolated from the people around him.The Black Monk is a powerful exploration of the human psyche, and Chekhov's masterful prose captures the complexity of Kovrin's mental state with great sensitivity and nuance. The novella is a haunting meditation on the nature of genius, the power of obsession, and the fragility of the human mind. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Russian literature or the complexities of the human psyche.""In ancient times a happy man grew at last frightened of his happiness -- it was so great! -- and to propitiate the gods he brought as a sacrifice his favourite ring. Do you know, I, too, like Polykrates, begin to be uneasy of my happiness. It seems strange to me that from morning to night I feel nothing but joy; it fills my whole being and smothers all other feelings. I don't know what sadness, grief, or boredom is. Here I am not asleep; I suffer from sleeplessness, but I am not dull. I say it in earnest; I begin to feel perplexed.""This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.