The son of a former serf, Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) worked professionally as a doctor and an author, becoming one the greatest writers in Russian and world history. He found fame for his work as a playwright and as author of, by some counts, more than 500 short stories. He was also a generous philanthropist, supporting various educational, medical, and even religious projects. As a writer, he advocated for ‘the most absolute freedom—freedom from violence and lying, whatever forms they may take.