Swan Song: We learn about life not from plusses alone, but from minuses as well.

By Anton Chekov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860.

Although he died at the young age of 44 Chekhov is admired as one of the greatest writers of all time with a deserved place in the literary pantheon across his plays and short stories.

As a playwright he wrote four classics: ‘The Seagull’, ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’. All of these and many others receive regular revivals to this day. Chekhov is considered along with Ibsen and Stringberg one of the three seminal figures in ushering in early modernism.

As a short story writer, his initial motivation was as a means of obtaining a more regular income, but soon his ambitions grew and his innovations and legacy have bequeathed us many quite extraordinary works including ‘The Lady with the Little Dog’, ‘Death of a Statesman’, ‘Ward Number Six’, ‘A Hard Case’, and ‘My Life’ being just a few examples of his artistry.

In addition, he practiced as a medical doctor during most of his literary career. As he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’

In March 1897, Chekhov was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He died on 15th July 1904 at Badenweiler in Germany.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stage Door
• Release date: Jan 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839673405

Book preview

Swan Song by Anton Checkov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on 29th January 1860. 

Although he died at the young age of 44 Chekhov is admired as one of the greatest writers of all time with a deserved place in the literary pantheon across his plays and short stories.

As a playwright he wrote four classics: ‘The Seagull’, ‘Uncle Vanya’, ‘Three Sisters’ and ‘The Cherry Orchard’.  All of these and many others receive regular revivals to this day.  Chekhov is considered along with Ibsen and Stringberg one of the three seminal figures in ushering in early modernism.

As a short story writer, his initial motivation was as a means of obtaining a more regular income, but soon his ambitions grew and his innovations and legacy have bequeathed us many quite extraordinary works including ‘The Lady with the Little Dog’, ‘Death of a Statesman’, ‘Ward Number Six’, ‘A Hard Case’, and ‘My Life’ being just a few examples of his artistry.

In addition, he practiced as a medical doctor during most of his literary career. As he was fond of saying ‘Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my mistress.’

In March 1897, Chekhov was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He died on 15th July 1904 at Badenweiler in Germany.

Index of Contents

Dramatis Personae

The Scene

SWAN SONG

Anton Chekhov – A Short Biography

Anton Chekhov – A Concise Bibliography

SWAN SONG

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

VASILI SVIETLOVIDOFF, a comedian, 68 years old

NIKITA IVANITCH, a prompter, an old man

THE SCENE: Is laid on the stage of a country theatre, at night, after the play. To the right a row of rough, unpainted doors leading into the dressing-rooms. To the left and in the background the stage is encumbered with all sorts of rubbish. In the middle of the stage is an overturned stool.

SVIETLOVIDOFF [With a candle in his hand, comes out of a dressing-room and laughs]

Well, well, this is funny! Here’s a good joke! I fell asleep in my dressing-room when the play was over, and there I was calmly snoring after everybody else had left the theatre. Ah! I’m a foolish old man, a poor old dodderer! I have been drinking again, and so I fell asleep in there, sitting up. That was clever! Good for you, old boy!

[Calls]

Yegorka! Petrushka! Where the devil are you? Petrushka! The scoundrels must be asleep, and an earthquake wouldn’t wake them now! Yegorka!

[Picks up the stool, sits down, and