Born Taganrog, Russia, January 29, 1860; a shopkeeper’s son

Worked in his father’s shop with all kinds of people from all over the region

Attended regular rituals of the Orthodox Church; sang in the choir; read Bible

Classical grammar school education

Father went bankrupt & family (except Anton) moved to Moscow 1876. He stays in Taganrog to study and work as a tutor.

1880: first story published
1884: first book of stories (he's written over 200)
Graduates in medicine
Shows TB symptoms, ignores them
1887: 2nd book, publication of SWAN SONG
Premiere of IVANOV at Korsh Theatre, Moscow 11/19/87.

1888: SWAN SONG at Korsh 2/19/88
BEAR at Korsh 10/88
PROPOSAL written
Pushkin Prize for 2nd book
First meeting with Stanislavsky

1889
Revised IVANOV in St. Petersburg
First (unsuccessful) performances of WOOD DEMON
Brother dies of TB

Russia
Moscow / Melikhovo
Sakhalin
Taganrog
Yalta

8-month visit in 1890
Writes ISLAND OF SAKHALIN about the conditions, published 1894.

Purchased 1892, relocates there
Opens clinic & practices medicine & writes

1895
Starts writing SEAGULL
Meets Tolstoy

1896
St Petersburg (failed) premiere of SEAGULL 10/17/96

1897
VANYA published, forbids perf before 1899
TB finally diagnosed
To Europe to convalesce

1898
SEAGULL at MAT
12/17/98 success
Meets Olga Knipper

1898:
Nemirovich-Danchenko convinces him to allow a production of SEAGULL at People’s Art Theatre (MAT).

Chekhov attends rehearsals, meets Olga Knipper.

Successful first performance Dec 17 which legitimizes him as a playwright.

1898
Buys land in Yalta
Father dies

1899
starts writing THREE SISTERS
premiere of VANYA 10/26
Sells Melikhovo, moves to Yalta full time with mom and sister

1900
MAT perfs VANYA for him in Yalta
Reads SISTERS to MAT
Starts courting Olga

1901
SISTERS Premiere 1/31/01
Olga as Masha, moderate success
10v. of Complete Works pub.
Marries Olga 5/25/01

1903
Starts writing CHERRY ORCHARD
Declining health
Draft complete for MAT, which starts rehearsals (Stan--tragedy, Chek--comedy)
Premiere 1/17/04
Successful, though Chekhov leaves early

1904:

Goes to Badenweiler Germany with Olga for cure from springs

Dies there July 15, 1904.

Buried beside father in Moscow

Reputation: 20th Century and Beyond