Anton Pavlovich Chekhov – doctor and writer

CHEKHOV's stories and plays show deep psychological insight. Although he was an astute medical doctor-scientist as well as a talented writer, Chekhov realized that scientific rationalism could not answer certain questions, such as, what is the meaning of life? As a result, in his writing, he created hundreds of characters who are weak, passive, and ineffective, suggesting that man is but a victim in an absurd world. TOLSTOY compared Chekhov stories to impressionist paintings, and his best plays, such as The Cherry Orchard, Three Sisters, The Seagull, and Uncle Vanya, still appeal to readers and theatergoers the world over. Chekhov's writing shows the symbiosis of the muse and Æsculapius could expand his capabilities. He wrote to a friend, Medicine is my lawful wife, literature my mistress. When I tire of the one, I spend the night with the other. Professor Rajko IGIĆ, Serbian-American doctor and author, presents in this book Chekhov's life and his writing, including his famous rule for writing: "Remove everything that has no relevance to the story." This rule was underscored in William STRUNK's influential and useful guide-book to English usage, The Elements of Style, 1918, including his statement: "A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts."