Anton Chekhov offers a critical introduction to the plays and productions of this major canonical playwright. A century after his death the genius of Chekhov's writing, the innovatory nature of his approach to theatrical representation, and the profundity of his philosophy are beginning to be re-examined.Emphasising his continued relevance, humour and mastery of the tragicomic, the author provides an insightful assessment of Chekhov's life and work. The text analyses many Chekhov favourites including The Seagull, Uncle Vanya and The Cherry Orchard in addition to Chekhov's vaudevilles and one-act plays, making reference to Chekhov's stories and using both traditional criticism and more recent theoretical and cultural standpoints including cultural materialism, philosophy, and gender studies.Anton Chekhov provides the reader with a comprehensive and comparative study of the relationship between Chekhov's life, career, ideological thought and view of art and analyzes, with reference to historical and recent productions, his continued appeal.