?The purpose of these 17 essays, authored by well-known Slavic and drama specialists, is to convey the significance of Chekhov within manageable parameters for readers unable to tackle the considerable body of available Chekhov scholarhips. The material ranges over a wide spectrum of topics. Chekhov is given context through review of his fast-developing society, personal struggles with family, illness, medical and literary career, place within Russia's literary tradition. A section on his fiction draws together his major themes and favorite type of character, stressing his own often whimsical attitude toward the latter. Individual works are not treated extensively. Rather, the authors assess Chekhov's far-reaching influence on the 20th-century short story and drama, particularly the impact on modern stage production as well as the extension of Chekhov works into film. Several articles deal with Chekhov's stylistic innovations, narrative technique, and his own dispassionate point of view, with general application of these literary devices to both plays and stories. In their analysis of critical attitudes toward Chekhov, the authors demonstrate to what extent Russian literature is subject to sociopolitical realities. Chekhov's own world view, as expressed in commentaries and letters, is the subject of additional essays. A discourse on the quality of available English translations and a respectable bibliographical sampling round out the book.?-Choice