Mr. Kataev examines Chekhov's major tales, stories, and plays, pointing out patterns of development in Chekhov's approach to characters and themes, and tracing the roots of Chekhov's ideas as expressed through his plots. He quietly undermines many conventional (and persistent) approaches to Chekhov, Western as well as Russion, and establishes a radically new position of his own. Offers the reader fresh insights...enhances our understanding...The book should open a new and most welcome chapter in Chekhov criticism.-Simon Karlinsky. Unquestionably one of the two major studies of Chekhov by Russian critics during the twentieth century.-Karl D. Kramer.