This portrait of the great Russian dramatist and writer Anton Chekhov assesses his achievements as a doctor, scholar, teacher, explorer and penologist as well as exploring his general creative evolution. Chekhov's faults - his irascibility, hesitancy and inconsistencies - are studied as well as his virtues. Ronald Hingley, lecturer and critic, has edited and translated Chekhov's literary works for The Oxford Chekhov. His other books include biographies of Stalin and Dostoevsky.