Party and Other Stories Book

The goodreads description incorrectly lists the stories included in this edition. In reality, they are: The Party, A Woman's Kingdom, My Life: A Provincial's Story, An Unpleasant Business, & A Nervous Breakdown.
Short story collections are tough for me. Often I feel bludgeoned by the author's style & pet themes to the point of not wanting any more for a while, or ever. This one isn't too bad in that respect, but the common theme that flows thru these tales is the intensity of emotion felt by the protagonists, & that does prove a bit harrowing by the end. The centerpiece of the book & also the longest story in it - My Life: A Provincial's Story - is the one exception to that rule, standing alone here in its dispassionate detailing of the life of a young man born to a respected family & scorned for taking up common labor as an occupation. The surrounding stories practically hyperventilate with anxiety, but throughout them all Chekhov skillfully communicates the thoughts & conflicts of his memorable characters, making them leap off the pages with a startling vivacity.