The Great Chekov

And no, I’m not referring to Walter Koenig.

Not only was Anton Chekov the first great master of the short story form (and many consider the greatest ever), he is also one of the greatest playwrights, trailing only Shakespeare, and holding his own with Ibsen and Jonson.

What made him truly special, beyond his literary genius, is that he was also a great person. As my old teacher, the great John L’Heureux once said, “Every writer is a bastard. Except for Chekov.” A medical doctor who wrote stories to support his family after his father’s death, he eventually died of tuberculosis contracted while helping the poor.

Take a few moments today to read about Chekov, or better yet, pick up a copy of his short stories and read them for yourself.