The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov
"The Cherry Orchard" is a classic play about an aristocratic Russian woman and her family as they return to their family estate, which includes a large and well-known cherry orchard. The family is on the brink of financial ruin and the estate is slated to be auctioned off. Despite various attempts to save their beloved home and orchard, they are ultimately unable to prevent the sale. The play is a poignant reflection on the changing social order and the decline of the aristocracy in Russia at the turn of the 20th century.
The 877th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 453
This book was first published in 1904
16 Lists
- score: 175 -- The Main Works of Russian literature - 2018 (Weight: 150)
- score: 120 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 120)
- score: 94 -- Fifty French Writers Choose Their Favorite 10 Books - Honourable Mention - 2022 (Weight: 89)
- score: 31 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 30)
- score: 10 -- 100 Must-Read Classics in Translation - 2017 (Weight: 10)
- score: 9 -- 101 of the World's Greatest Books (1950) - 1950 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Drama 100 - A Ranking of the Greatest Plays of All Time - 2007 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 100 Books - 1999 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Inteliquest's World's 100 Greatest Books of All-Time - 1993 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century - 2000 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Well-Educated Mind - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1979 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays - 2015 (Weight: 1)