Anton Chekhov

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904) was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history and one of the most prominent playwrights.

His career as a dramatist produced four classics: The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard, all of them immensely influential and often performed in South Africa - especially in Afrikaans translation. As have been some of his one-act plays (The Bear, The Proposal, Swan Song, On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco, etc)

Though his dialogue and the dark and melancholic themes have translated extremely well into the Afrikaans language and cultural environment, the wry, dark, metaphoric and contemplative style of his dramatic form has perhaps not been quite as influential in the Afrikaans canon as has Henrik Ibsen's more theatrical and melodramatic approach to his sensational themes. Chekhov's form of Naturalism nevertheless appealed strongly to a certain group of Afrikaans directors and playwrights in the 20th century, including for example Robert Mohr, Carel Trichardt and Reza de Wet.

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