A swim in a pond in the rain : in which four Russians give a master class on writing, reading, and life / George Saunders.
"In A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, George Saunders guides the reader through seven classic Russian short stories he's been teaching for twenty years as a professor in the prestigious Syracuse University graduate MFA creative writing program. Paired with stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, these essays are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works and why it's more relevant than ever in these turbulent times. Saunders approaches each of these stories technically yet accessibly, and through them explains how narrative functions; why we stay immersed in a story and why we resist it; and the bedrock virtues a writer must foster. For the process of writing, Saunders reminds us, is as much a craft as it is a quality of openness and a willingness to see the world through new eyes. Funny, frank, and rigorous, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain ultimately shows how great fiction can change a person's life and become a benchmark of one's moral and ethical beliefs."-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781984856029
- ISBN: 1984856022
- Physical Description: xii, 410 pages ; 25 cm
- Edition: First edition
- Publisher: New York : Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC, [2021]
- Copyright: ©2021
Content descriptions
- General Note:
- Includes texts of seven short stories.
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 409-410).
- Formatted Contents Note:
- We begin -- In the Cart -- Anton Chekhov. A page at a time: thoughts on In the Cart ; Afterthought #1 -- The Singers -- Ivan Turgenev. The heart of the story: thoughts on The Singers ; Afterthought #2 -- The Darling -- Anton Chekhov. A pattern story: thoughts on The Darling ; Afterthought #3 -- Master and Man -- Leo Tolstoy. And yet they drove on: Thoughts on Master and Man ; Afterthought #4 -- The Nose -- Nikolai Gogol. The door to the truth might be strangeness: Thoughts on The Nose ; Afterthought #5 -- Gooseberries -- Anton Chekhov. A swim in a pond in the rain: Thoughts on Gooseberries ; Afterthought #6 -- Alyosha the Pot -- Leo Tolstoy. The wisdom of omission: Thoughts on Alyosha the Pot ; Afterthought #7 -- We end.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Gogolʹ, Nikolaĭ Vasilʹevich, 1809-1852. Nos.
Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich, 1860-1904. Kryzhovnik.
Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich, 1860-1904. Na podvode.
Chekhov, Anton Pavlovich, 1860-1904. Dushechka.
Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883. Pevt͡sy.
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910. Alësha Gorshok.
Tolstoy, Leo, graf, 1828-1910. Khozi͡ain i rabotnik.
Short stories, Russian > 19th century > History and criticism.
Short stories, Russian > 19th century > History and criticism > Study and teaching.
Reader-response criticism > United States. - Genre:
- Literary criticism.
Essays.
Available copies
- 34 of 41 copies available at NC Cardinal.
- 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library. (Show)
Holds
- 1 current hold with 41 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 37810435774160 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Andrews Public Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 80605003575403 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Ashe County Public Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 50503300462738 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Black Mountain Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 0020512818467 | Adult Nonfiction | Checked out | 08/04/2026 |
| Braswell Memorial Main Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 37807000020172 | Adult Nonfiction Display | Available | - |
| Clemmons Branch | 891.708 S (Text) | 0112520038509 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Columbus Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 31250200079511 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Corolla Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 39488600185039 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| Cumberland Headquarters | 891.708 S (Text) | 31781065699223 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
| East Asheville Library | 891.708 SAU (Text) | 0020512737691 | Adult Nonfiction | Checked out | 07/21/2026 |
Accessibility Features
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| 100 | 1 | . | ‡aSaunders, George, ‡d1958- ‡eauthor. ‡0(CARDINAL)343034 |
| 245 | 1 | 2. | ‡aA swim in a pond in the rain : ‡bin which four Russians give a master class on writing, reading, and life / ‡cGeorge Saunders. |
| 250 | . | ‡aFirst edition | |
| 264 | 1. | ‡aNew York : ‡bRandom House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC, ‡c[2021] | |
| 264 | 4. | ‡c©2021 | |
| 300 | . | ‡axii, 410 pages ; ‡c25 cm | |
| 336 | . | ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent | |
| 337 | . | ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia | |
| 338 | . | ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier | |
| 500 | . | ‡aIncludes texts of seven short stories. | |
| 504 | . | ‡aIncludes bibliographical references (pages 409-410). | |
| 505 | 0 | . | ‡aWe begin -- In the Cart -- Anton Chekhov. A page at a time: thoughts on In the Cart ; Afterthought #1 -- The Singers -- Ivan Turgenev. The heart of the story: thoughts on The Singers ; Afterthought #2 -- The Darling -- Anton Chekhov. A pattern story: thoughts on The Darling ; Afterthought #3 -- Master and Man -- Leo Tolstoy. And yet they drove on: Thoughts on Master and Man ; Afterthought #4 -- The Nose -- Nikolai Gogol. The door to the truth might be strangeness: Thoughts on The Nose ; Afterthought #5 -- Gooseberries -- Anton Chekhov. A swim in a pond in the rain: Thoughts on Gooseberries ; Afterthought #6 -- Alyosha the Pot -- Leo Tolstoy. The wisdom of omission: Thoughts on Alyosha the Pot ; Afterthought #7 -- We end. |
| 520 | . | ‡a"In A Swim in a Pond in the Rain, George Saunders guides the reader through seven classic Russian short stories he's been teaching for twenty years as a professor in the prestigious Syracuse University graduate MFA creative writing program. Paired with stories by Chekhov, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Gogol, these essays are intended for anyone interested in how fiction works and why it's more relevant than ever in these turbulent times. Saunders approaches each of these stories technically yet accessibly, and through them explains how narrative functions; why we stay immersed in a story and why we resist it; and the bedrock virtues a writer must foster. For the process of writing, Saunders reminds us, is as much a craft as it is a quality of openness and a willingness to see the world through new eyes. Funny, frank, and rigorous, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain ultimately shows how great fiction can change a person's life and become a benchmark of one's moral and ethical beliefs."-- ‡cProvided by publisher. | |
| 600 | 1 | 0. | ‡aGogolʹ, Nikolaĭ Vasilʹevich, ‡d1809-1852. ‡tNos. ‡0(CARDINAL)847847 |
| 600 | 1 | 0. | ‡aChekhov, Anton Pavlovich, ‡d1860-1904. ‡tKryzhovnik. ‡0(CARDINAL)850192 |
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| 700 | 1 | 2. | ‡iContainer of (expression): ‡aTolstoy, Leo, ‡cgraf, ‡d1828-1910. ‡tAlësha Gorshok. ‡lEnglish ‡s(Brown) |
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