In the unfinished volume on Čechov, published posthumously between last Century’s first and second half, Bunin set himself the daunting task to recompose the image of the Russian writer, giving voice to the coexistence of the different Selves shaping Čechov's personality to create a portrait that could prove as truthful as possible. The fragmentary nature of narration, where personal memories alternate with shared experiences, remarks on Čechov's stories and a comparison with the different interpretations of the writer's artistic and personal evolution, is indicative of Bunin's narrative attempt to invite to further reflection on the writer's inner world and the profound significance of words in his literary work.
