The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Chekhov, Anton. “My Life.” Anton Chekhov: The Complete Short Novels. First Vintage Classics Edition, 2005.

When 25-year-old Misail Poloznev gets fired from his umpteenth job, his father is furious. Misail, a nobleman, insists that he wishes to work in manual labour. This infuriates his father and distresses his sister Cleopatra. Cleopatra’s friend Anyuta Blagovo manages to get Misail a job working under the engineer Dolzhikov. Dolzhikov sends him to Dubechnya, an estate he recently bought. Misail works in the telegraph office alongside his old classmate Ivan Cheprakov.

Misail is unhappy working in the telegraph office—a job that keeps him idle most of the day. When Cleopatra, Anyuta, and Anyuta’s brother Dr. Blagovo come to visit, the women sense his unhappiness. Misail and Ivan are fired shortly after, when Dolzhikov comes to inspect the place. Misail decides to work as a housepainter under a kind man called Radish.

Misail enjoys working as a housepainter at first. He lives with his old nanny Karpovna. His sister often comes to visit. Incidentally, Cleopatra’s visits are always timed according to Dr. Blagovo’s. Dr. Blagovo enjoys having philosophical debates with Misail regarding the merit of physical labor. One day, Misail’s father visits him to complain of Cleopatra. He says that she has become disrespectful and evasive as of late. He blames Misail’s negative influence for this.

Misail suffers from bouts of unemployment on account of poor weather. He grows depressed as he realizes the true nature of his fellow townspeople, who berate the painters and other men of Misail’s new class. One day while working, Dolzhikov’s daughter, Masha, approaches him. She bids him to come visit her. He does so, alongside Dr. Blagovo. The two become frequent visitors of the playful and passionate Masha.

Meanwhile, Misail receives weekly care packages from an anonymous individual. He suspects that the sender is Anyuta Blagovo. One night, a police officer shows up at Karpovna’s to summon Misail to the governor’s office. When he shows up the next day, the governor suggests to him that he pursue an occupation more befitting to his rank.

Misail starts seeing Masha twice a day. She sympathizes with Misail’s passion for manual labor and confesses that she has dreams of her own of someday running the farm at Dubechnya. Her father, Dolzhikov, is kinder to him now that Misail is no longer his employee. Misail comes to dinner often. Eventually, he becomes sickened with himself and feels like a phony for attending these high-class dinners. He avoids Masha for a week. She shows up to his place one night and begs him not to abandon her. They kiss.

Masha and Misail to Dubechnya get married and move to Dubechnya. Misail busies himself by working the fields and doing small jobs around the house. He describes this as the happiest period of his life. Masha takes on organizing the building of the new local school. The muzhiks despise her for not observing their traditions, like providing vodka after a long day of work. She soon becomes depressed and resentful of the people whose lives she is trying to better.

At the blessing of the school, the muzhiks apologize to Masha and thank her. She cries tears of joy. Misail senses that she is saying goodbye. Masha starts going into town more often. One day, she leaves for St. Petersburg and never returns. Misail moves in with Cleopatra, who is pregnant. He receives a letter from Masha in which she tells him that their marriage was a mistake and that she is going to America with her father.

Cleopatra gets sick. An indifferent Dr. Blagovo checks in on her from time to time. One night, Misail goes to his father’s house to tell him that Cleopatra is dying. His father only yells at him and condemns him for dragging Cleopatra into a life of sin.

Years later, Misail is a successful craftsman in the town. He takes care of Cleopatra’s daughter. Sometimes, he visits Cleopatra’s grave with Anyuta, who has been in love with him all her life.