Recommended Chekhov Biography - Virgil Tanaz, "Chekhov" Summary and Comments
This time we would like to introduce "Chekhov," Gallimard's New Critical Biography Series 5, written by Virgil Tanaz and translated by Kimiko Taniguchi and Tamayo Shimizu, published by Shodensha in 2010.
Let's take a quick look at the book.
Chekhov was a doctor and writer who stubbornly believed that he had no literary talent and that writing was only a sideline, no matter how many gems of fiction he spun and how many of his plays were applauded on the stage. The book is rich in detail and expansive in scope. This biography sheds new light on Chekhov.
AmazonProducts Page.
This biography is a concise and accessible summary of Chekhov's life and is a great way to learn about the kind of writer he was and the kind of life he led.
For myself, this was the first book I picked up on Chekhov that was written.
I read this book with no idea what kind of person Chekhov was, but it was so easy to read and full of interesting discoveries that I finished it in no time at all. It is so interesting that I got absorbed in the book.
The start of the book is especially wonderful. I was drawn to the book by this beginning. I will quote from it as follows.
Chapter 1: The Story of the Liberated Peasants
If he were not even tall, no one would notice him. It is said that Anton Chekhov was so much like that that he seemed to be walking softly on tiptoe in everything he did.
Lev Tolstoy, who was a great admirer of Chekhov, described him as "like a little girl. Like a person who, when she has a good dream, knows somewhere that it is just a dream and is careful not to break her sleep, Chekhov led a modest life, firmly believing that what was happening to him was just a coincidence and would not last long.
Why?
Normally, this is not how life should be lived!
Chekhov was the grandson of a serf.
What is a serf? Nothing worthwhile, more like a human being.used to express emotional involvementIt is one of the properties that a landowner has at his disposal. It is like cattle and horses. When they die, another serf takes their place, and they have no influence on the world. Chekhov was well aware of this and talked about it with his friend Suvorin, who was also the grandson of a serf.
One became an acclaimed writer, the other one one of the wealthiest tycoons in Russia at the end of the 19th century, but the serf blood running through their bodies did not allow them to bask in their success.
Who is Chekhov? He is a peasant who writes stories because they make him money instead of working the land. When he dies, no one will want to read his stories, and soon other people, like oxen and horses, will no doubt fill the hole left by his death and work just as hard.
After generations of servitude as serfs, this was the way of thinking.
Shodensha, translated by Taniguchi Kimiko and Shimizu Tamayo, Gallimard New Critical Biography Series 5 "Chekhov" p7, 8
I have already told you in previous articles that Chekhov came from a family of serfs, but even so, this sentence is quite strong.
How did Chekhov rise from such circumstances to become Russia's greatest writer?
I became extremely interested in Chekhov when I read this beginning.
Chekhov began his literary career under completely different circumstances and outlook on life than the great aristocrats Turgenev and Tolstoy, or even the middle and lower class aristocrats Dostoevsky.
This book is a grueling read. It is easy to understand and interesting. I highly recommend it as an introduction to Chekhov's life.
However, there are two points that should be noted.
The first is that there is almost no mention of the work.
If you are interested in learning about the works he wrote, this book is not really for you. This book is written solely about his life, so there will be little commentary on the content of his works.
Another is a reference to Chekhov's relationships with women.
The book makes it sound like Chekhov was a playboy and debauched, but the next article, by Seiro Sato, who will be introduced in the next article, is a good example of this.The Life of Chekhov.Then the exact opposite is true.
Chekhov was indeed popular with the ladies. He was talented, charming, and good-natured. He was also very kind. So he was involved with a lot of women.
However, opinions differ as to whether he was repeatedly debauched.
Mr. Seiro Sato is a member of theThe Life of Chekhov.discusses this point in considerable detail in his book, "The Chekhovs. He states that Chekhov was struggling financially, that he was physically ill, and above all, that his character would not allow it.
Reading Sato's book, it is hard to believe that Chekhov was repeatedly debauched. This point needs to be compared by looking at various studies.
We recommend that you reserve judgment on Chekhov's women's issues in this book.
Although there are only the two points mentioned above that need to be noted, this is a very good book as an introduction to Chekhov.
This book makes me want to know more Chekhov! I want to read more Chekhov! I want to read more Chekhov!
I recommend this book as it is very easy to read.
This is "Virgil Tanaz's "Chekhov" - A Recommended Biography of the Great Russian Writer Chekhov.
Next Article.
Click here to read the previous article.
Click here for a list of Chekhov's recommended works.
Related Articles
