Anton Chekhov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born in Taganrog, Russia, in 1860. While studying medicine at Moscow University, he began publishing short stories to support his family, quickly gaining acclaim for his keen observation and compassionate, often humorous portrayal of Russian life. Though a physician by training, Chekhov devoted himself to writing, producing masterpieces of short fiction such as 'The Lady with the Dog' and 'Ward No. 6.' His major plays—The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard—transformed theatrical conventions with their understated dialogue, complex subtext, and focus on the quiet tragedies of everyday existence. Chekhov's work profoundly influenced 20th-century drama and the modern short story. He died of tuberculosis in 1904 at the age of 44, leaving a legacy as one of literature's greatest innovators.