"Joy" is a short story by Anton Chekhov about a young man named Mitya Kuldarov who arrives home late at night, bursting with excitement. He eagerly tells his family that his name has been published in the newspaper, making him famous throughout all of Russia. Mitya is ecstatic about his sudden celebrity status, as before this moment, only his family knew of his existence as a registration clerk. He shows his family the newspaper article, which describes how he had fallen under a horse in an intoxicated state but was not seriously injured. Mitya can hardly contain his joy and runs out to share the news with his friends and acquaintances. The story highlights how even the smallest recognition can bring immense happiness and self-importance to a person's life. Read in English, unabridged.
