The Beginning of an Idea | The Beginning of an Idea

At a glance:

Author: John McGahern
First Published: 1978
Type of Plot: Realism
Time of Work: The 1960's
Setting: Paris, France and rural Spain
Principal Characters: Eva Lindberg, Arvo Meri, Manolo
Genres: Short fiction
Subjects: 1960’s, France or French people, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Twentieth century, Authors or writers, Escapes, Rape, Adultery, Success or failure, Eastern Europe or eastern Europeans, Western Europe or western Europeans, Russia or Russian people, Naivete, Spain or Spanish people
Locales: Spain, Paris, France

The Story

“The Beginning of an Idea” is a story about a French woman's abortive attempt to fulfill her ambition to write an imaginary life of the Russian author Anton Chekhov. It begins with a passage from Eva Lindberg's notes, repeated throughout the story, about how the word “oysters” was chalked on the side of the wagon that brought Chekhov's body to Moscow for burial. His body was carried in the oyster wagon to preserve it from the heat.

Also among Eva's notes is an almost full translation of a very short story by Chekhov entitled “Oysters.” The Chekhov...

The Beginning of an Idea | The Beginning of an Idea

At a glance:

The Story

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