The first thing Chekhov did after moving to his new estate in Melikhovo was to order shelves for books. Anton Pavlovich wrote in one of his letters, “I’m reading away.” He had a large library, which included books by Russian and foreign classics, a lot of reference literature on medicine, history, economics and gardening. Chekhov also stored some humorous magazines: “Strekoza”, “Oskolki”, and “Alarm Clock”, which published his first stories and drawings made by his brother Nikolay.

In the photo from Chekhov’s study in Melikhovo, the writer himself is on the far left. In the upper row are his brothers, Mikhail and Ivan. On the far right is his beloved sister Masha, and next to her is Aleksandra Lesova, a schoolteacher from the village. The man with the mustache is Alexander Smagin, a landowner from Poltava. Chekhov’s library was much loved by his family and guests, who were borrowing books to read. “I have already read ‘The Gardenins’, but I don’t have the book, and I will be very happy to have it. The public that use my library will also be glad.” Anton Chekhov wrote that to the author of the novel, Alexander Hertel.

Alexander Chekhov recalled,

Anton Chekhov supported the Taganrog library for 14 years, by sending books and money. This cooperation began with a request sent through the writer’s uncle, Mitrofan Yegorovich Chekhov. Anton Pavlovich eagerly responded, sent three of his books, as well as Leo Tolstoy’s “The Power of Darkness” signed by the author and commented,

During the last ten years alone, Anton Pavlovich sent 1,693 books to the Taganrog library. When Chekhov moved to Yalta, he took with him only 160 books, including medical ones. The rest of the writer’s collection was sent to Taganrog. The last parcel with books from Chekhov came a month before his death.