Anton Chekhov

Anton Chekhov Books, Quotes, Biography, Novels
Chekhov began his career as a physician, famously stating, “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress”. Despite his medical profession, he gained prominence as a writer, producing numerous short stories and plays that have left an indelible mark on world literature.

Literary Contributions
Short Stories: He wrote hundreds of short stories, developing a unique style marked by objectivity, brevity, and subtle nuances. Notable short stories include The Lady with the Dog, The Bet, Ward No. 6, Gooseberries, and The Huntsman.

Plays: His most famous plays include The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. These works are known for their focus on mood and character rather than complex plots.

Literary Innovations: Chekhov made formal innovations that influenced the evolution of the modern short story, emphasizing the importance of asking questions rather than providing answers.

Legacy
Chekhov’s impact on literature and theater is profound:

He is considered a master of the modern short story, known for his laconic precision and ability to probe beneath the surface of life. His stories often depict ordinary people in mundane situations, exploring human nature, existential struggles, and the absurdity of life. He avoided moralizing and instead portrayed life as it is, emphasizing subtext and nuance.

His plays revolutionized theater, introducing the concept of “submerged life in the text” and creating a “theater of mood”, influencing playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, and Harold Pinter.

Chekhov’s principle of “Chekhov’s gun” in drama asserts that every element in a story should be necessary to the plot.

His writing is often associated with the transition from 19th-century Russian realism to modernism.

Anton Chekhov passed away on July 14/15, 1904, in Badenweiler, Germany. Today, he is celebrated as one of the greatest Russian storytellers and a father of modern drama, with his works continuing to be studied, performed, and admired worldwide.