ABSTRACT
Anton Chekhov was born on January 17, 1860, in the South Russian town of Taganrog. His father kept a small shop, outside which two signboards were displayed: tea, sugar, coffee and colonial wares and drinks, to be consumed on or off the premises. The thoughts of Paul Chekhov and his friends were mainly focused on the very serious problem of earning their daily bread. A small shop brought in only a bare subsistence, and they were dimly aware of various economic trends outside their control, which might at any moment lead to bankruptcy and ruin. Church-going and choir-practice were only part of Paul Chekhov’s comprehensive educational regime. The process went on remorselessly, and took up most of Anton’s time. During Anton’s first six years at the Gymnasium there were no major changes in the outward pattern of his life. At 14, however, he began to notice that his father’s face was growing longer and his temper worse.
