Additional Reading

Much has been written about Chekhov and many new translations of his works have been published in recent years. For a fine, thorough biography, pick up the one by Donald Rayfield, author of this article: Anton Chekhov: A Life, Holt, 1998. Philip Callow also authored a fine biography, Chekhov: The Hidden Ground (Ivan Dee, 1998). The Ecco Press (1997) has published a collection of Chekhov’s correspondence with Olga Knipper: Dear Writer, Dear Actress: The Love Letters of Chekhov & Olga Knipper.

For a wonderful new translation of some of Chekhov’s best comic works, see The Comic Stories (Ivan Dee, 1999). For some newly discovered short works, see The Undiscovered Chekhov (Seven Stories, 1998). Older translations also abound. The Modern Library series includes good translations of most of Chekhov’s work. There are three volumes (all Random House, 1993-9): Early Short Stories: 1883-1888; Later Short Stories: 1888-1903; Longer Stories from the Last Decade. Some of the best stories in older translations have been compiled in The Essential Tales of Chekhov (Ecco Press, 1999). Meanwhile, Prometheus Books (1997) has compiled two volumes of Chekhov’s work with excellent new translations: Stories of Men and Stories of Women.

For translations and interpretations of Chekhov’s plays, turn to Smith and Kraus, which has published: Four Plays (his best known plays), The Vaudevilles, and The Early Plays.

Chekhov’s plays are also a great way to improve your Russian. For a fine, glossed reader, see Chekhov: Three Farces (Focus, 1993).