The Summer Guest: A Novel of Chekhov

A young Anton Chekhov connects the lives of three women: “An enchanting era-spanning novel [and] a literary mystery that goes beyond the limits of time.” —Entertainment Weekly, “Must List”

During the long, hot summer of 1888, an extraordinary friendship blossoms between Anton Chekhov and Zinaida Lintvaryova, a young doctor. Recently blinded by illness, Zinaida has retreated to her family’s estate in the lush countryside of Eastern Ukraine, where she is keeping a diary to record her memories of her earlier life. But when the Chekhov family arrives to spend the summer at a dacha on the estate, and she meets the middle son, Anton Pavlovich, her quiet existence is transformed. What begins as a journal kept simply to pass the time becomes an intimate, introspective narrative of Zinaida’s singular relationship with this fellow doctor and writer of growing fame.

Over a century later, in 2014, the diary’s discovery represents Katya Kendall’s last chance to save her struggling London publishing house. Zinaida’s description of a gifted young man still coming to terms with his talent offers profound insight into a literary legend, but also raises a tantalizing question: Did Chekhov, known only as a short story writer and playwright, write a novel over the course of their friendship that has since disappeared? Finding the answer proves an irresistible challenge for Ana Harding, the translator Katya hires. Increasingly drawn into Zinaida and Chekhov’s world, Ana is consumed by a desire to find the “lost” book. As she delves deeper into the moving account of two lives changed by a meeting on a warm May night, she discovers that the manuscript is not the only mystery contained within the diary’s pages.

Inspired by the real friendship between Chekhov and the Lintvaryov family, The Summer Guest “explores the intimate relationships of one of Russia’s best loved writers and poses intriguing questions about the fine line between art and deception” (Kathleen Tessaro, New York Times-bestselling author of The Perfume Collector).

“Transporting.” —Seattle Times

“An exceptional novel about the transcendent possibilities of literature, friendship, and contemplation.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Elegant. . . . packs a heartbreakingly lovely emotional punch.” —Booklist (starred review)

“The Summer Guest gives us all of the pleasures of a superb mystery novel, but most of all it is a profound meditation on the power, and necessity, of the imagination.” —Ron Rash, New York Times-bestselling author of The Caretaker

© 2023 Harper (Ebook): 9780062423375

Release date

Ebook: December 15, 2023