Set at the turn of the 19th century, The Little Thief is a historical novel about Anton Chekhov’s trip to the French Riviera to soothe his ailing lungs. It’s the story of missed encounters, train romance, and a playwright’s passion, where Chekhov struggles to reveal the secrets of his art to an eager young writer…and the depth of his love for the beautiful Olga Kniper. The master will bestow words of wisdom on the young scribbler: “All those fires blazing inside you!… Become a hunter of the good and beautiful… Latch on to the aura of the least object… Be awkward and insolent!… Write often and every day… Write as though you’re in a dream, an intense and continuous delirium…” Punctuated by an exchange of letters, the adventure takes us from Melikhovo, to Paris, to the French Riviera and to Chekhov’s White Dacha by the Black Sea, providing an intimate and moving portrait of the great Russian writer.

“A seductive book where Robert Lalonde again surprises us with the magic of his prose and the ability to write in the manner of the great Chekhov.”
~ Yvon Paré, Littérature du Québec

“The Little Thief is a vibrant tribute to the great Russian writer and a privileged foray into the world of literary mentoring.”
~ Samuel Larochelle, Le Huffington Post Québec

“A finely crafted novel with a backdrop of dazzling imagery.”
~ Chrystine Brouillet, TVA

“Through Chekov’s voice, Robert Lalonde subtly reveals the mastery of his own writing.”
~ Christian Desmeules, Le Devoir

An actor, playwright and translator, Robert Lalonde is one of Quebec’s leading novelists. His previous books published in translation by Ekstasis Editions include The Ogre of Grand Remous, The Devil Incarnate, One Beautiful Day to Come, The Whole Wide World, Seven Lakes Further North, The Last Indian Summer, What Will I Become Until I Die?, Little Eagle with a White Head, The Heart Is What Dies Last and The World on the Side of a Trout.