Mikhail Pavlovich Chekhov was the youngest son in the Chekhov family; he was born in Taganrog when Anton was five years old. Mikhail was interested in literature since childhood, and as a third-grade student he published poetry in the magazine “Light and Shadows”. After his father’s bankruptcy the family came to Moscow, and the 11-year-old boy “assigned himself” to a gymnasium when he risked having to work in a merchant’s barn.
Like his elder brothers, Mikhail Pavlovich entered Moscow University. He chose the faculty of law, was a keen student, and especially loved the historical lectures of Vasily Klyuchevsky. An artist by nature, Mikhail Chekhov had to earn a living after graduation by working as a tax inspector. When the Chekhovs moved to Melikhovo, Mikhail came there every summer. He grew very close to his brother Anton, helped him with everything and got interested in literature again.
Mikhail Chekhov started by publishing his translations, and his first book was a dictionary for farmers, “Zakrom”. Mikhail Pavlovich tried his hand at writing scripts and acting for an amateur troupe, was interested in theater, and published his reviews in the Moscow magazine Theater and Art. He wrote a lot for children, his stories were published under pseudonyms in the magazines “Children’s Leisure”, “Children’s Friend” and “Rodnik”.
Anton Pavlovich remarked on his brother’s success, “Misha is capable of writing a historical novel for children”. But he never saw the heyday of Mikhail’s career as a publicist. Thanks to his brother’s advice, Mikhail left the civil service, moved to Saint Petersburg, and took up literary work. After Anton Chekhov’s death, Mikhail wrote a few books, hundreds of essays and stories, won the Pushkin Prize of the Academy of Sciences, and published the children’s magazine “Golden Childhood” for 10 years.
Mikhail Chekhov was married to Olga Germanovna Vladykina, who shared his theater interests. They had two children: their daughter Evgeniya became a singer, and their son Sergey was a graphic artist. Mikhail Pavlovich also drew a lot, there are illustrations to his letters and his watercolors with views of the Caucasus and Crimea.
Mikhail Chekhov’s main work was memoirs about his brother. He was Anton Chekhov’s first biographer. Together with his sister Maria he published several books of memoirs about him, six volumes of his letters, worked at the Chekhov Museum in Moscow and was a research associate of the Chekhov House-Museum in Yalta till the end of his life. His book “Around Chekhov” published in 1933 was called “the Chekhov encyclopedia”.
Like his elder brothers, Mikhail Pavlovich entered Moscow University. He chose the faculty of law, was a keen student, and especially loved the historical lectures of Vasily Klyuchevsky. An artist by nature, Mikhail Chekhov had to earn a living after graduation by working as a tax inspector. When the Chekhovs moved to Melikhovo, Mikhail came there every summer. He grew very close to his brother Anton, helped him with everything and got interested in literature again.
Mikhail Chekhov started by publishing his translations, and his first book was a dictionary for farmers, “Zakrom”. Mikhail Pavlovich tried his hand at writing scripts and acting for an amateur troupe, was interested in theater, and published his reviews in the Moscow magazine Theater and Art. He wrote a lot for children, his stories were published under pseudonyms in the magazines “Children’s Leisure”, “Children’s Friend” and “Rodnik”.
Anton Pavlovich remarked on his brother’s success, “Misha is capable of writing a historical novel for children”. But he never saw the heyday of Mikhail’s career as a publicist. Thanks to his brother’s advice, Mikhail left the civil service, moved to Saint Petersburg, and took up literary work. After Anton Chekhov’s death, Mikhail wrote a few books, hundreds of essays and stories, won the Pushkin Prize of the Academy of Sciences, and published the children’s magazine “Golden Childhood” for 10 years.
Mikhail Chekhov was married to Olga Germanovna Vladykina, who shared his theater interests. They had two children: their daughter Evgeniya became a singer, and their son Sergey was a graphic artist. Mikhail Pavlovich also drew a lot, there are illustrations to his letters and his watercolors with views of the Caucasus and Crimea.
Mikhail Chekhov’s main work was memoirs about his brother. He was Anton Chekhov’s first biographer. Together with his sister Maria he published several books of memoirs about him, six volumes of his letters, worked at the Chekhov Museum in Moscow and was a research associate of the Chekhov House-Museum in Yalta till the end of his life. His book “Around Chekhov” published in 1933 was called “the Chekhov encyclopedia”.
