One of Russia's greatest writers, Chekhov began his career writing jokes and anecdotes for popular magazines to support himself while he studied to become a doctor. Between 1888 and his death he single-handedly revolutionized both the drama and the short story. Near the end of his life he married an actress, Olga Knipper. He died from tuberculosis in 1904, age 44. This site presents all 201 stories in the order of their publication in Russia.
Passages marked in blue have an explanatory note at the end of the story.
A complete list of Constance Garnett's translations of Russian literature is here . Reading Chekhov was just like the angels singing to me.