Vanka (short story)

The story was first published in Peterburgskaya Gazeta's No. 354 (25 December; new style: 7 January 1887), 1886 issue, in the Christmas Stories section, signed A. Chekhonte (А. Чехонте).^[1]

In a slightly revised version, it was included in the 1888 collection Stories (Рассказы, Saint Petersburg) and appeared unchanged in all of its reissues from 1888 to 1899. It made its way into the compilations Children (Детвора, 1889) to be reproduced unchanged in its second and third editions (1890, 1895). In 1900 it appeared with unauthorized cuts in a children's reader, Zolotyie Kolosya (Golden Spikes). Chekhov included the story in Volume 4 of his Collected Works published by Adolf Marks in 1899–1901.^[1]

A nine-year-old boy is in desperate need to convince his grandfather Konstantin Makarych, his only relative, to take him back to his home in the country. As an orphan, Vanka finds himself in a dire situation, having moved to Moscow three months prior where he now toils under the harsh conditions of shoemaker Alyachin's household. Enduring hunger, mistreatment, and scorn, Vanka seizes the opportunity of Christmas Eve to clandestinely compose a letter to his indifferent grandfather, detailing his plight in the unfamiliar city. Amidst reminiscing about their former life in the village with beloved dogs Kashtanka and Fionn, Vanka recalls happier times, including the kindness of a woman named Olga Ignatievna who taught him invaluable life skills. Expressing his longing for the familiar comforts of home, Vanka implores his grandfather to rescue him from his current hardships. With great hope and trepidation, he addresses the letter to "The village, to my grandfather, Konstantin Makarych," understanding the pivotal role this missive plays in determining his future. As he drifts off to sleep, Vanka dreams of his grandfather reading the letter by the warmth of the stove, with Fionn by his side.

The phrase “The village, to grandfather” (Russian: на деревню дедушке) from the story became an idiomatic expression, which refers to sending something to inaccurate, incomplete, unclear, questionable, or non-existent address, where it will not be delivered or answered.

• Ванька, the original Russian text
• Vanka, the English translation