Anton Chekhov was a Russian playwright and short story writer. He is considered one of the greatest authors of short narratives in history. Many plays, such as Uncle Vanya (1897), The Three Sisters (1900), and The Cherry Orchard (1904), are considered chef-d'oeuvre of world literature and are still widely performed today.
Chekhov's stories are known for their emotional depth and portrayal of ordinary people facing everyday struggles. Some of his most famous texts include The Lady with the Dog, The Bet, and The Bishop.
Anton Chekhov was born in Taganrog, Russia, in 1860. His father was a grocer, and his mother was the daughter of a cloth merchant. Chekhov's parents were both illiterate, and the family was poor, but they placed great emphasis on education. All of the children received a quality education.
Anton Chekhov obtained his education at the Russian Christian Humanities Institute in Taganrog. He studied different subjects, including literature, history, and the natural sciences. After graduating from the private school, Chekhov continued his education at Moscow University, where Anton studied medicine. He eventually received a medical degree and worked as a doctor in addition to writing.
Chekhov began writing in his youth. He initially wrote primarily for popular magazines and newspapers, and his early work was often humorous and lighthearted.
Anton Chekhov received support and encouragement from his older brother, Alexander Chekhov, who was also a writer. Alexander was a well-respected playwright and journalist, and he helped Anton to get his work published in the literary magazines of the time.
The future Russian classic published his first story, Mire, in 1883 when he was just 23 years old.
As he matured as a writer, his work became more serious and reflective, and he began to explore deeper themes such as loss and the human condition. Throughout his career, Chekhov wrote hundreds of short stories, several novels, and plays, which are now considered classics.
Chekhov's breakthrough as a playwright came with the production of his play The Seagull. The comedy in four acts was written in 1895 and first produced in 1896. The story was well-received by both critics and audiences.
However, it was not until the publication of his play The Cherry Orchard in 1904, shortly before his death, that he achieved international fame and became widely recognized as one of the greatest writers of his time.
Anton Chekhov's circle of friends and colleagues included other writers, such as Leo Tolstoy and Ivan Turgenev. Chekhov was close with many artists and intellectuals, including the critic and writer Vladimir Korolenko and the painter Isaac Levitan.
Chekhov also was a member of the Moscow Art Theater, a prestigious theater company founded by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.
The wife of Anton Chekhov, Olga Knipper-Chekhova, was a Russian actress and appeared in many of the plays produced by the theater, including several of Chekhov's plays. She and Chekhov were married in 1901. They remained married until Chekhov died of tuberculosis in 1904 at 44.
