To A. S. Suvorin, 22 November 1891. Moscow.
А. С. СУВОРИНУ, 22 ноября 1891 г. Москва.
Headnote
Written 22 November 1891 from Moscow to Alexei Sergeyevich Suvorin (1834–1912), the wealthy publisher of the newspaper "Novoye Vremya" ("New Time") and Chekhov’s closest correspondent and confidant in these years.
Chekhov reports that his health is improving – less coughing, more strength, better spirits – and that he is behaving better at home. He doesn’t know when he can visit Suvorin, since he has hack work to do until spring ("pouring from empty into void"). He describes a glimmer of hope for real freedom: a letter from Poltava province reports a suitable small estate for sale near Sorochintsy, a stone house on the bank of the river Psyol, with land, outbuildings, and a garden, priced at five thousand rubles (three now, two on installments). If it comes through he plans to move there in March and split his year between the country and Petersburg; he is sending his sister to inspect it. He rhapsodizes about the freedom such a modest, low-cost rural life would give him to simply work and read. He pushes back on Suvorin’s apparent skepticism that his story "Kashtanka" will earn him anything, expects to visit after 10 December, and asks eagerly for a story Suvorin has promised, so he can needle him about it. He closes with good wishes and signs off.