This collection includes the stories: The House with the Mezzanine, Typhus, Gooseberries, In Exile, The Lady with the Toy Dog, Goussiev, and My Life. According to Wikipedia: "Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian short-story writer, playwright and physician, considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers in the history of world literature. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics. Chekhov practiced as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: "Medicine is my lawful wife", he once said, "and literature is my mistress."