1860-1904. Russian dramatist and writer. He
began to write short stories and comic
sketches as a medical student. His plays
concentrate on the creation of atmosphere and
delineation of internal development, rather
than external action. His first play Ivanov
1887 was a failure, as was The Seagull 1896
until revived by Stanislavsky 1898 at the
Moscow Art Theatre, for which Chekhov went on
to write his major plays: Uncle Vanya 1899,
The Three Sisters 1901 and The Cherry Orchard
1904. Born at Taganrog, he qualified as a
doctor 1884, but devoted himself to writing
short stories rather than practicing
medicine. The collection Particoloured
Stories 1886 consolidated his reputation and
gave him leisure to develop his style, as
seen in My Life 1895, The Lady with the Dog
1898 and In the Ravine 1900.