Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was born on January 29 (January 17 of the old Julian Calendar), 1860, in Taganrog, a city in southern Russia. He was one of six children born to a grocer, Pavel Chekhov, and his wife, Evgeniya. Pavel Chekhov, a strict religious man, was physically abusive towards Anton and his two older brothers. However, despite enduring a depressing childhood, Chekhov was educated at an early age and apparently well read. He earned a medical degree from Moscow University in 1884 and began practising medicine at the Zemstvo Hospital in Vosklressensk. Chekhov began writing for publication about the same time he entered medical school. He wrote for newspapers and humorous magazines, primarily to earn money, and published comical short stories under the pseudonym Antosha Chekhonte. In a short time, Chekhov discovered his passion for writing and launched his literary career. It was during the second stage of this writing career that he became famous. He was heavily influenced by the political views of Leo Tolstoy, specifically by his rejection of materialism and his concern with alleviating the suffering of the peasants. Tolstoys influence became obvious in Chekhovs second set of stories, published after 1886 under his true name. Later, when Chekhov rejected Tolstoys views, this rejection was reflected in Chekhovs works including his short story Gooseberries. ...