Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) is one of the most celebrated Russian writers of all time. He is best known for plays and short stories in which he concisely and convincingly captures the intricacies of human nature. His works often feature a blend of tragedy and comedy, focusing on ordinary lives and the subtle dramas that unfold within them. Critics regard his writing as the pinnacle of 19th-century Russian Realism.

Chekhov’s works were informed and inspired by his own life experiences and observations. Born in Taganrog, Southern Russia, Chekhov and his siblings suffered the tyranny of an abusive Orthodox father who would later serve as a model for hypocritical patriarchal figures in many of Chekhov’s works. Chekhov began writing short comedic and satirical pieces for newspapers to support himself through his final years of schooling while the rest of his family moved to Moscow to escape debtors. He produced an enormous body of work as he finished his education and went on to study medicine in Moscow, financially supporting not only himself but his family too. After graduating as a licensed physician and while working full time as a doctor, Chekhov dedicated himself to writing the serious literary pieces for which he is now best known.