LETTERS OF ANTON CHEKHOV
TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

TRANSLATED BY CONSTANCE GARNETT




TRANSLATOR'S NOTE


Of the eighteen hundred and ninety letters published by Chekhov's family I
have chosen for translation these letters and passages from letters which
best to illustrate Chekhov's life, character and opinions. The brief memoir
is abridged and adapted from the biographical sketch by his brother Mihail.
Chekhov's letters to his wife after his marriage have not as yet been
published.




BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH


In 1841 a serf belonging to a Russian nobleman purchased his freedom and
the freedom of his family for 3,500 roubles, being at the rate of 700
roubles a soul, with one daughter, Alexandra, thrown in for nothing. The
grandson of this serf was Anton Chekhov, the author; the son of the