Anton Chekhov 1860 1904 Humble beginnings 1860 January

Anton Chekhov 1860 -1904

Humble beginnings • 1860 January 17 Born in Taganrog (small town in S. of Russia) • Grandson of serf, born into large family • Father a gloomy religious person, becomes a bankrupt • Chekhov later wrote how he “squeezed the slave out of himself drop by drop. ”

The Chekhovs

To Moscow! • 1879 Enters Medical faculty at Moscow University • 1880 Begins to publish in humorous magazines under pseudonyms • 1884 Graduates from med school Approx now first signs of TB

An omen… • 1886 Starts to publish stories under his own name • 1887 Writes Ivanov • 1888 The Wood Demon • 1888 Steppe (long story). • 1889 Brother Nikolai dies of TB

Settling down • 1890 Journey to penal colony in Sakhalin to conduct a sociological survey • returns to Russia via Singapore, Sri Lanka • 1892 Buys country estate at Melikhovo outside Moscow.

Melikhovo

Staying alive… • 1897 Major signs of tuberculosis, moves to Yalta, travels to Nice, France. • 1898 Moscow Art Theatre revives Seagull, it is a hit. • 1899 Uncle Vanya

Chekhov’s House in Yalta, Crimea

The last years… • 1901 Three Sisters; marries actress Olga Knipper • 1903 Cherry Orchard • 1904 2 July Dies in Badenweiler in Germany.

Famous sayings • “Medicine is my lawful wife and literature my mistress; when I get tired of one, I spend the night with the other. ” • “Reason and justice tell me there's more love for humanity in electricity and steam than in chastity and vegetarianism. ” • “Conciseness is the sister of talent. ”

Chekhov’s values • Modesty – hard work – discretion – respect for others • Not a moralist – an ethicist • knew Orthodox ritual better than any Russian writer • Not a believer – but saw faith as a broad field between two poles of belief and disbelief • Not a revolutionary: in his life’s actions showed he believed in gradual progress, not radical solutions