Writer · 1860 – 1904

Anton Chekhov

Little-Known Facts

  • He called medicine his 'lawful wife' and literature his 'mistress'.
  • 'Chekhov's gun' — the principle that every detail must matter — is named for his advice on storytelling.

Myths & Misconceptions

Why do Chekhov's plays seem to lack plot?

He deliberately avoided dramatic action, focusing instead on mood, subtext and the texture of ordinary life — an approach that defined modern drama.