A. P. Chekhov: «Хамелеон»

A. P. Chekhov was born on 29 January 1860 in Taganrog in southern Russia; his father kept a grocery shop. The children grew up strictly, helping their father in trade and singing in the home and church choir. He studied first at a Greek school and then, in 1868–1879, at the classical gymnasium, where he produced a handwritten journal. Books, music and theatre played a great role in his life. After the gymnasium he entered the medical faculty of Moscow University and, to help the family, wrote humorous stories under pseudonyms such as Antosha Chekhonte. At first his main genre was the short humorous story; later laughter gave way to dramatic notes. «Смерть чиновника» and «Толстый и тонкий» appeared in 1883. For the theatre he wrote «Чайка», «Дядя Ваня», «Три сестры» and «Вишнёвый сад». Seriously ill, he died in Badenweiler, Germany, on 15 July 1904.