Seven beats from our edition of The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov, shuffled. Drag them, or use the arrows, until the story runs straight. No account, no streak to lose.
This one is set for Wednesday, 7 October 2026, so you are early. Play today's instead.
::YaltaGurov, a practiced philanderer, spots Anna and her little dog at the resort and contrives to meet her.Meeting
::The Seaside RomanceThey become lovers; Anna is wracked with guilt while Gurov treats it as a passing diversion.Affair
::Anna’s DepartureAnna is called home by her husband, and the two separate, each expecting the affair to fade.Parting
::MoscowBack in his cold domestic routine, Gurov is astonished to find he cannot forget Anna.Restlessness
::The TheatreGurov travels to Anna’s town and finds her at the opera; their love flares again and she agrees to come to him.Pursuit
::Hidden MeetingsAnna visits Moscow secretly, and the lovers carry on a clandestine, anguished relationship.Secret Love
::The Long RoadThey acknowledge real love yet see no escape from their marriages, facing a future that is only beginning.Open Ending
Solved. That is the shape of the story.
Each beat is labelled with its place in the arc now. The full reading, with themes, symbols and the ending explained, is in the The Lady with the Dog edition.