http://m.eb.com/topic/108392
Third of six surviving children
Father was a grocer and son of a former serf. He was very controlling and physically dominating. Directed the Greek Orthodox choir
Lived in Taganrog, Russia for most of his early life until his father went broke and moved the family to Moscow while Chekhov was in school
Chekhov attended a school for Greek boys, then continued onto the town gymnasium, working on odd jobs to earn money, which he sent to his family in Moscow

Moved to Moscow with his family in 1879 and became the main bread winner
Wrote short, comic sketches for humorous journals to pay his way through medical school, which he graduated from in 1884
As his writing matured, Chekhov wrote increasingly more serious pieces, with humor remaining an important element
Wrote his first play, Ivanov, from 1887-1889, focusing on a young man contemplating suicide
Faced criticism from his peers for having no outstanding political or social views in 1890
Wrote considerably more short stories than plays
Last three plays written were most well-known (The Seagull, Three Sisters, The Cherry Orchard)

Plays include: Ivanov
Uncle Vanya-1897
The Seagull-1896
Three Sisters-1901
The Cherry Orhcard-1904
Writing style was realistic and simple, yet descriptive
Most famous was The seagull, which was badly received upon its first showing. Chekhov swore off play writing until Stanislavksi directed it two years later and made it more accessible to audiences in 1898

Focuses in on four well-developed characters
It dramatises the romantic and artistic conflicts between four characters: the famous middlebrow story writer Boris Trigorin, the ingenue Nina, the fading actress Irina Arkadina, and her son the symbolist playwright Konstantin Tréplev.
First performed 1896