Anton Pavlovich Checkov

The 29-th of January is the birthday of A.P.Checkov, a well-known Russian writer. He was born in Taganrog, in 1860. Hi parents were poor and he supported himself by tutoring backward boys when he studied at school.
When Anton was 19 he went to Moscow to enter the medical school as he decided to become a doctor.
Anton had the gift of improvising funny stories. When he studied at medical school, he wrote about 300 stories. He could write only at night after his hard work in the hospital.
In 1884 Checkov became a doctor. Checkov had never intended to become a professional writer. He said:"Medicine is my wife, and Literature is my mistress".
The years he spent in Melichovo were his happiest years. He wrote his best stories there. In Melichovo he built a school for the poor at his own expence.
Though constantly (he had a consumption) he remained good-humoured, amusing and cheerful.
The doctor told him that to continue his life he must change his style of life. So, he went to Yalta. There he wrote "The Cherry Orchard", "Three Sisters", "The Lady with the Dog".
Checkov died in 1904 when he was 44.
There are some memorial places to Checkov in Taganrog: the house where he was born, the school where he studied, the "Checkov's Lavka".
Everybody who visits the museam writes in the Visitor's Book his deep love for the great Russian writer.

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