READING CHEKHOV

ToilluminatethemysteriousgreatnessofAntonChekhov'swritings,JanetMalcolmtakesonthreeroles:literarycritic,biographer,andjournalist.HerclosereadingsofthestoriesandplaysareinterwovenwithepisodesfromChekhov'slifeandframedbyanaccountofMalcolm'sjourneytoSt.Petersburg,Moscow,andYalta.ShewritesofChekhov'schildhood,hisrelationships,histravels,hisearlysuccess,andhisself-imposed"exile"--alwayswithaneyetoconnectingthemtothemesandcharactersinhiswork.LoversofChekhovaswellasthosenewtohisworkwillbetransfixedby"ReadingChekhov."