Brief biography of Chekhov the most important thing

January 29, 1860 – July 15, 1904 (44 years old)

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Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904) is a great Russian writer, talented playwright, academician, and doctor by profession. The most important thing in his work is that many of his works have become classics of world literature, and his plays are staged in theaters around the world.

The material was prepared jointly with a teacher of the highest category, Ilyina Galina Sergeevna.

Experience as a teacher of Russian language and literature - 36 years.

early years

Born on January 17 (29), 1860 in Taganrog in the family of a merchant who ran a small shop. From an early age, together with his brothers, Anton helped his father in his shop. Chekhov's childhood was not easy: his father kept his sons strict, forced them to rehearse a lot and sing in the church choir.

The future writer studied at a Greek gymnasium school, where little Chekhov entered the preparatory class in 1868. Then Anton Pavlovich began his studies at the University of Moscow at the Faculty of Medicine, from which he graduated in 1884. After that, he practiced medicine. During all the years of his studies, Chekhov had to earn extra money in every possible way: he was a tutor, collaborated with magazines, and wrote short humoresques.

Chekhov's personal life

The author of so many popular works was a great success among women. Many sources mention that the future writer lived near a brothel, which could not but affect his worldview.

The personal life of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was quite eventful. Many women lost their heads after communicating with this well-mannered young man, and subsequently a man. Chekhov himself valued his freedom most of all and made every effort to avoid marriage and the obligations associated with it for as long as possible. This attitude towards life is understandable. Chekhov had to support his numerous relatives for a long time after the ruin of his father.

Women played a big role in Chekhov's work. Thanks to some muses, the writer wrote such plays as “Fatherless” and “Three Sisters.” Afterwards, the images of beautiful ladies were embodied by artists Natalya Nazarova, Elena Polyanskaya, Daria Belous and Galina Polskikh. The male characters were played by such famous actors as Nikolai Karachentsov and Mikhail Efremov.

The beginning of a literary journey

Chekhov's debut in print took place in his first year at the institute, when the young writer sent his story and humoresque to the Dragonfly magazine. Chekhov's stories were first published as a separate book in 1884 (“Tales of Melpomene”). Chekhov's work of that period was significantly influenced by the works of L. Tolstoy.

Then in Chekhov’s biography there was a long trip to Sakhalin (April–December 1890), which can be called the writer’s civic feat. There he studied the life of exiles and compiled a census of them. Chekhov's great work “Sakhalin Island” tells the story of this trip.

Chekhov never considered himself a children's writer. However, he wrote several works for children. “Kashtanka” and “White-fronted” are “two tales from a dog’s life,” as the writer himself put it in a letter to the publisher.

History of success

At the age of 19, radical changes occur in the life of the classic: he moves to Moscow, where he enters the medical faculty of Moscow University and makes his debut in print with the story “Letter to a Learned Neighbor.” The work was published in the magazine “Dragonfly”, with which the author subsequently continued to collaborate. Chekhov's creative world is multifaceted, he is praised by readers, but he still cannot decide what he wants from life: a career in medicine or success in the literary field?

The main genre of his works were short humorous stories, which he published in humorous publications: “Alarm Clock”, “Oskolki”. There Chekhov’s creative history began. It is noteworthy that the author most often published his works under various pseudonyms. His future profession excluded any frivolity.

After finishing his studies at the university, Chekhov began working as a doctor in Zvenigorod, without leaving his literary activity.

First works

Chekhov's first works include:

• Drama "Fatherless"
• The story “Letter to a learned neighbor”
• The story "Thick and Thin"
• The story "Daughter of Albion"
• The story "Death of an Official"
• The story "Unnecessary Victory"
• The story "The Lady"
• Story "Dirge"

Confession

The writer did not immediately receive recognition and respect from critics. Although ordinary readers quickly paid attention to the young creator.

What distinguished Chekhov from most writers was that he did not ask global questions and did not strive to solve big problems. Many reviewers believed that the genre of humorous stories is a kind of “ceiling” for the author.

Everything changed at the age of 26, when Chekhov received a letter from the writer D.V. Grigorovich, which said that he was wasting all his potential. Grigorovich advised him to save his impressions for something more ambitious and thoughtful. This was supposed to bring fame and success to the future classic.

This letter influenced Chekhov's work. Now his works became more serious. 2 years later, in 1888, the writer received the prestigious Pushkin literary prize for his collection of stories “At Twilight.” After this, the writer received honor and respect from critics.

Books and collections

What did Anton Pavlovich Chekhov write? The writer's bibliography includes several hundred works. Many works remained unfinished. Let us note the most famous works of Chekhov.

The period of early creativity includes several works that are considered the most remarkable and successful. This is the story “Letter to a Learned Neighbor”, with which Chekhov made his debut in print, the well-known stories “Chameleon”, “Horse Name”, “Over Salted”, “Death of an Official”. In total, more than four hundred works belong to the period of early creativity. Most of them are humorous stories that were published in relevant publications.

At the end of the 19th century, a new stage in the author’s work began. His works become more serious, and the main characters most often become characters living in their own world. These include the works “Ward No. 6”, “House with a Mezzanine”, “Lady with a Dog”, “Student”.

Separately, it is worth noting Chekhov as a playwright. The theater occupied a special place in the writer’s life. To this day, you can see many performances based on Chekhov’s plays on stage. The most significant include the famous works “Uncle Vanya”, “Three Sisters”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “The Seagull”.

Later years. Death of a Writer

After purchasing the Melikhovo estate, he carried out social activities, helping people (1892–1899). At that time, many works were written, including the plays “Ivanov”, “The Seagull”, “Uncle Vanya”. The production of “The Seagull” on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater in 1898 became a well-deserved triumph for Chekhov the playwright.

Later Chekhov's plays “The Cherry Orchard” and “Three Sisters” were written.

The biography of Anton Chekhov contains another move: doctors recommended that the writer suffering from tuberculosis move to Yalta, where the climate was more suitable for pulmonary patients. Here L. Tolstoy, A. Kuprin, I. Bunin, I. Levitan, M. Gorky meet him.

Chekhov's works were published in two volumes in 1899–1902, and also in 1903.

Due to the worsening of the disease, the writer travels to Germany for treatment, where he dies on July 2 (15), 1904.

Women in the life of Chekhov: the personal life of the famous writer (author unknown)

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Everyone knows the skillful storyteller, the author of both capacious and funny stories and serious philosophical novels - Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

. But not everyone was interested in his personal life. And there is something to tell about her, believe me! People fell in love with Chekhov, they admired him, they dreamed about him, and he... Yes, the writer was also inspired by women. Almost every love he had was reflected in his work, not to mention his fascinating personal correspondence.

Fun fact: even the Central Committee of the CPSU discussed the issue of how not to vulgarize or discredit the bright image of the people's writer. According to the chairmen, it was enough to publish his diaries and letters to break into pieces the bright image of an intellectual and sensitive person.

First serious hobby

It was Dunya Efros, who studied pedagogical courses with Chekhov’s sister, Maria. Anton Pavlovich was 26 years old when he decided to marry a girl.

In January 1886, Chekhov wrote to the artist Bilibin, his close friend: “ Yesterday, while escorting a young lady home, I proposed to her. I want to go from the frying pan into the fire... Bless me to get married "

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Moreover, only Bilibin knew about this decision. Anton Pavlovich did not say anything to either sister Masha or Duna herself. Apparently, he himself was not particularly sure that he had made the right choice. For example, on January 19, 1886 - after that very letter to Bilibin - Chekhov writes to his comrade Leikin about the noisy wedding of his neighbors above: “There is a dance above my head.
The orchestra is playing. Wedding. <...> Someone, kicking like a horse, ran just above my head... It must be the best man. The orchestra is thundering... <...> A groom who is going to cockroach his bride should find such music pleasant, but for me, who is weak, it prevents me from sleeping.” Dissatisfaction with noise is understandable. But doesn't it mean displeasure with matrimonial plans in general? Who knows…

Anton Pavlovich's engagement was secret and brief. Dunya Efros was Jewish; after a fully formalized proposal from the future writer and the engagement itself, she still did not want to convert to Orthodoxy. So the wedding did not take place. And Chekhov himself very quickly lost interest in the bride. but later Dunya Efros married Chekhov’s friend. This is what he entrusted in a letter to Bilibin already in February 1886: “Thank your bride for her memory and attention and tell her that my marriage is probably - alas and ah! Censorship doesn’t let me through... She’s my Jew. If a rich Jew has enough courage to accept Orthodoxy with its consequences - okay, not enough - and there is no need. Besides, we have already quarreled... Tomorrow we will make up, but in a week we will quarrel again... Out of annoyance that religion is interfering with her, she breaks pencils and photographs on my table - this is typical... She is a terrible bitch... That I will divorce her in 1-2 years after the wedding, this is certain...”

Subsequently, Dunya married the lawyer and publisher Konovitzer, a friend of Chekhov. After the revolution, she emigrated with her husband to France. She died in the Treblinka concentration camp in 1943.

It is believed that this girl was the prototype of Susanna Moiseevna from the story “ Tina ”.

Moreover, Susanna is not at all a positive heroine - she is a cynical, arrogant and insidious woman who takes advantage of the innocence of her gentlemen and robs them completely. Apparently, in this way Anton Pavlovich expressed his accumulated irritation.

Actress and playwright

Anton Pavlovich's next lover was Lydia Yavorskaya, a theater actress. This hardworking girl knew how to achieve her goal: although she was not accepted into the Alexandria Theater, she did not give up trying to play. Anton Chekhov met with the actress with long breaks and not for long - she hoped that the writer would create plays for her. In one of the letters, she even set a clear date by which he must create at least something in order to hang up the posters the very next day.

The actress herself spread rumors about her relationship with Anton Pavlovich, over time they became true. In January 1895, an intimate relationship clearly occurred between them: this is evidenced by Yavorskaya’s notes, in which she mentions “unearthly bliss” in a hotel room.

Not a lover, but a muse

There was another woman in Chekhov’s life who was closely connected with his work - Lika Mizinova. The girl inspired the writer to create new works.

When Chekhov was 29 and Lika was 18, they saw each other almost every day, and when they couldn’t meet, they exchanged sweet and ironic notes. Men hovered around Lika, and she herself had an eccentric character. Once she almost took Chekhov to the Caucasus, deceiving her parents that she was going with a friend, but at the last moment the writer refused.

Anton Pavlovich, guided by common sense, never confessed his love to her, although tenderness towards Lika is felt in his letters. Mizinova flirted in front of him and admitted to affairs with others, trying to make Chekhov jealous: first she got together with the married writer Potapenko, then married the director Sanin.

Unlike Yavorskaya, Mizinova became the prototype for Chekhov’s famous work: Nina Zarechnaya from the play “ The Seagull ”

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Friendship instead of love

Chekhov was again introduced to another woman by his sister, Maria. Olga Kundasova was a very smart, enthusiastic lady. But overweight (which Anton Pavlovich did not like). The girl fell in love with the writer and often visited their house under various pretexts. Chekhov enjoyed communicating with the erudite Olga, but... no more. He called her either an astronomer or a bustless one - since she did not wear bustles or corsets. She also had other peculiar habits: loud laughter, wide swings of her arms when walking, speech contaminated with ignoble words.

Many believe that Rassudin is from the story “ Three Years ”

- This is the embodiment of the image of Kundasova, although the writer himself denied this.

Feelings from childhood

There was also a girl who fell in love with Chekhov as a child. Nina Korsh is the daughter of the owner of a private Russian theater. " Ivanov " was staged at her father's theater

, little Nika saw the writer for the first time and fell in love. At that time she was only 12 years old. Anton Pavlovich himself became interested in her only eleven years later, during the first Moscow Art Theater showing of “The Seagull.”

They dated for two years, during which time Nina Korsh became pregnant by the talented author. However, he never met the child - it was at this time that Chekhov began a relationship with Olga Knipper, the rest of the fair sex faded into the background. Nina left for France forever.

Olga Knipper - the only and beloved wife

This woman is remembered first of all when they talk about Chekhov’s great love. No matter how many girls there were in his life, he kept each of them at a distance. He did not confess his love - at least not directly, he did not propose his hand and heart. However, with the advent of Olga Knipper, everything changed.

«Gull»

, at the rehearsal of which I met the writer. Anton Pavlovich, as well as the audience of the play, highly appreciated the role of the actress. At that time she was 30 years old, and Chekhov was eight years older. Since 1899, they maintained an active correspondence (leaving behind more than 800 letters). By the way, Olga continued the habit of writing to her beloved even after the writer’s death.

In 1900, the actress visited Crimea with the Moscow theater troupe. The woman settled with Chekhov, and now they no longer hid their relationship. But no one could have imagined that the romance between the actress and the writer would go so far: a year later they got married, hiding from everyone.

ambition. This was an ideal union for Chekhov: he always said that women can distract from what they love. Here both spouses had strong hobbies.

In 1904, Anton Pavlovich died of illness in the arms of his only wife.

Interesting Facts

• Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was very fond of signing his stories with interesting pseudonyms, of which there were about 50. The most popular among them was Antosha Chekhonte.
• In the Chekhov family it was believed that the surname of their family came from a Czech ancestor.
• The wife of playwright Chekhov was theater artist Olga Leonardovna Knipper, who outlived him by 55 years. After the death of her husband, according to her will, she received a dacha in Gurzuf and five thousand rubles.
• Chekhov had two favorite dachshund dogs, to which he gave unusual names - Brom Isaevich and Hina Markovna.

All the interesting facts from the life of Chekhov
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Elena Shavrova

Shavrova and Chekhov met at a time when the girl was barely 15 years old. She dreamed of becoming a writer and brought her story to an already established author for review. She fell in love with him at first sight. At this time, Anton Chekhov himself was very passionate about Lika Mizinova and did not pay any attention to the young girl.

Elena understood the futility of her attempts to get to know Chekhov more closely. The only way out of the situation was to get married and leave Moscow, which she did. The next meeting took place 8 years later, when she again arrived in the capital. Only years later they had an affair. For some time they communicated closely, but then their paths diverged again, because Shavrova had a family.