He is cited as one of the most respected short-story writers and history and is one of the most frequently adapted authors of all time. At the time of his death, he had authored sixteen plays, a novel, five novellas, countless letters, and over 200 short stories.
He contracted tuberculosis as a young man, and it eventually claimed his life in 1904. Though a longtime bachelor, he finally married Olga Knipper in 1901. Though you be proud and wise and beautiful, yet will death wipe you from the face of the earth. 'Everything is void, frail, visionary and delusive as a mirage. Explanation and Analysis: Unlock with LitCharts A +. In later years, he lived on a farm where he treated local peasants and dedicated his dwindling energy towards tending to his farmland. Related Themes: Page Number and Citation: 9. At 28, he won the Pushkin Prize, marking a major stepping stone in his career. He proceeded to work as a doctor for most of his literary career, writing short stories and plays in his free time to pay for tuition and to support his family, for whom he was now the sole breadwinner. In 1879, he moved to Moscow and completed his degree in medicine. When the family fled to Moscow in 1876 because the father faced debtors’ prison, Anton stayed behind and finished his schooling. His parents were struggling grocers and, while his mother was kind, his father was often abusive. Anton Chekhov was born to a large family in Taganrog, southern Russia.