"The 'Seven Stories of Love' are not love stories in the sentimental sense. Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), the master of the short story, had no use for pompous effects. His love stories are discreet and acutely aware of the transience of feelings. In this restraint lies their depth, making them worth reading at any time. Where feelings are not spelled out, they intensify in reading to the highest degree. Love can instill fear. 'Seven Stories of Love, which of course are called fear, are to be read quickly: because there are hardly any who know as precisely as Anton Chekhov about the gaps of the soul, the wrinkled and porous places, the hesitation and lameness of the heart.' Elke Schmitter, Süddeutsche Zeitung.".