title: Song of the White Swan
author:  Aleta T. Boudreaux 
description: Blend together the best romantic Arthurian writers like Lady Mary Stewart in her Merlin series; Katherine Neville like she writes in The Eight, and add the mystique of a Lynn Andrews and you have a fantastic stay in your seat writer. --Romantic Times Review<br /><br />For history buffs, this book is a MUST! For the ones who love Historical Romances (that do not make the reader want to shake both the main characters for stupidity) Song Of The White Swan is a KEEPER! --Huntress Book Reviews<br /><br />I found this story to be very unique:... I've never read a story quite like this, if you are looking for something different give this a try. --Listmania-Graham Douglas Lincoln
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  ##### www.blackmask.com
  
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  The Swan Song
  
  
  [INTRODUCTION](The%20Swan%20Song_split_001.html#filepos1411)
  
  [THE SWAN SONG](The%20Swan%20Song_split_001.html#filepos17942)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # The Swan Song
  
  
  ### Anton Chekov
  
  
  ##### Translated by Marian Fell
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * INTRODUCTION
  
  
  * THE SWAN SONG
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
  
  ### INTRODUCTION
  
  
  ANTON TCHEKOFF
  
  
  THE last years of the nineteenth century were for Russia tinged
  
  
  with doubt and gloom. The high-tide of vitality that had risen during
  
  
  the Turkish war ebbed in the early eighties, leaving behind it a dead
  
  
  level of apathy which lasted until life was again quickened by the
  
  
  high interests of the Revolution. During these grey years the lonely
  
  
  country and stagnant provincial towns of Russia buried a peasantry
  
  
  which was enslaved by want and toil, and an educated upper class which
  
  
  was enslaved by idleness and tedium. Most of the "Intellectuals," 