To illuminate the mysterious greatness of Anton Chekhovs writings, Janet Malcolm takes on three roles: literary critic, biographer, and journalist. Her close readings of the stories and plays are interwoven with episodes from Chekhovs life and framed by an account of Malcolms journey to St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Yalta. She writes of Chekhovs childhood, his relationships, his travels, his early success, and his self-imposed exilealways with an eye to connecting them to themes and characters in his work. Lovers of Chekhov as well as those new to his work will be transfixed by Reading Chekhov.From the Trade Paperback edition.