![]() Yet there is no avoiding the fact that A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is essentially a work of applied formalism. When he informs us that we will shortly be required to read a dozen pages of Chekhov, he sounds almost apologetic. He adopts an informal tone, illustrating key points with anecdotes and humorous analogies that have presumably been refined over many years in the seminar room. Saunders goes out of his way to present himself as an affable guide. ![]() ![]() It is that restrained but persistent note of sentimental humanism that is most noticeably illuminated in Saunders’ attentive readings of the Russian masters, though the parameters of the book are set by its practical emphasis. His work is known for its quirky premises and at times cartoonish forays into cultural satire, beneath which it is possible to discern a preoccupation with the themes of suffering and compassion. The immediately surprising thing about Saunders’ story selections is that they skew towards realism, which is not his usual mode. He then analyses the stories in detail, with a view to elaborating what makes them successful as pieces of writing. ![]() ![]() He presents us with seven short stories by great Russian writers: three by Chekhov, two by Tolstoy, and one each by Turgenev and Gogol. Its format is based on the exclusive writing workshops he runs at Syracuse. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is Saunders’ amiable contribution to the popular writing-guide genre. ![]()
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