Chekhov: Letters, Diary, Reminiscences and Biography

Book excerpt: "DEAR BROTHER MISHA, I got your letter when I was fearfully bored and was sitting at the gate yawning, and so you can judge how welcome that immense letter was. Your writing is good, and in the whole letter I have not found one mistake in spelling. But one thing I don't like: why do you style yourself "your worthless and insignificant brother"? You recognize your insignificance? ... Recognize it before God; perhaps, too, in the presence of beauty, intelligence, nature, but not before men. Among men you must be conscious of your dignity. Why, you are not a rascal, you are an honest man, aren't you? Well, respect yourself as an honest man and know that an honest man is not something worthless. Don't confound "being humble" with "recognizing one's worthlessness." ..." (Letters of Anton Chekhov To His Family and Friends)_x000D_ Anton Chekhov (1860 -1904) was a Russian physician, dramaturge and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. Chekhov practised as a medical doctor throughout most of his literary career. Along with Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg, Chekhov is often referred to as one of the three seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. He made no apologies for the difficulties this posed to readers, insisting that the role of an artist was to ask questions, not to answer them._x000D_ This edition includes: Biography by Constance Garnett_x000D_ Autobiographical Writings: _x000D_ Letters of Anton Chekhov to his Family and Friends_x000D_ Notebook of Anton Chekhov_x000D_ Reminiscences of Anton Chekhov: _x000D_ Fragments of Recollections by Maxim Gorky_x000D_ A. P. Chekhov by Ivan Bunin _x000D_ To Chekhov's Memory by Alexander Kuprin