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Anton Chekhov: A Life
Donald Rayfield Book Review

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Plot Summary of Anton Chekhov: A Life
"Anton Chekhov, the Russian playwright and story writer, lived a short but intense life in the concluding decades of the 19th century. Left by his debt-ridden parents to manage the old household in southern Russia duing his mid-teens, he managed to finish his medical school training, pursue careers as a doctor and writer, and support much of his family for much of his short life, as well as purchase land, finance a country school, and "enjoy" many love affairs with difficult and demanding women. He died of tuberculosis undoubtedly caught from patients at the age of 44.

Rayfield's 600-page biography reads very easily and fast. It accents the life of its subject: there's very little dissection of Chekhov's writings. But the life will help readers understand the bitter humor of his plays and stories."

David Loftus, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Anton Chekhov: A Life
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
job/profession: - writer
Ethnic/Relig. of subject (inside) - Russian
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Ethnic/regional/gender Yes
ethnic of society (outside) - Russian
Period of greatest activity? - 1800's

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - writer
Biography of famous person? Yes
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - Russian
How sensitive is this person? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other people
Physique - physically sick

Setting
Asia/Pacific Yes
Asian country: - Russia
City? Yes
Farm/Ranch? Yes
Century: - 19th century

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Book makes you feel? - concerned
Commentary on society? Yes
Commentary on - decency
Writer's slant towards subject: - favorable
Story of entire life, or part? - story of nearly entire life
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
Lot of titilating info about love life? Yes
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 26-50% of book
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Charles Dickens: His Tragedy and Triumph by Edgar Johnson


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Donald Rayfield Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
David Loftus  

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