Alexander Chekhov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Chekhov
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Alexander Pavlovich Chekhov August 22, 1855 Taganrog, Russian Empire |
| Died | May 29, 1913 (aged 57) St. Petersburg, Russian Empire |
| Spouse | Natalya Golden |
| Children | Michael Chekhov |
| Relatives | Anton Chekhov (brother) Ada Tschechowa (granddaughter) Vera Tschechowa (great-granddaughter) |
Alexander Pavlovich Chekhov (Russian: Алекса́ндр Па́влович Че́хов; August 22, 1855 – May 29, 1913) was a Russian writer. He wrote novels, short stories, essays, and memoirs. He was also the older brother of the very famous writer, Anton Chekhov.
Alexander was also the father of the well-known actor and acting teacher, Michael Chekhov. Michael learned from Stanislavski, another famous acting teacher. He then combined his father's ideas with those of Rudolf Steiner. This helped him create new "Psycho-Physical" acting methods. Anton Chekhov often said that Alexander was the smarter brother.
Contents
Alexander Chekhov's Life Story
Alexander was born into a family of merchants. This means his family owned a business. He went to school in Taganrog and finished in 1875. He earned a silver medal for his excellent work. Later, he studied natural sciences at Moscow State University. He was very smart and could speak six different languages!
Early Writing and Journalism
When Alexander was a student, he started writing. His stories were printed in funny magazines. These included The Spectator and The Alarm Clock. He helped his younger brother, Anton, learn about city journalism. This was how Anton got his start in writing for newspapers.
Working in Customs
After school, Alexander worked for the customs service. This job involved checking goods coming into the country. He worked in Taganrog from 1882 to 1885. Then he moved to St. Petersburg in 1885. He also worked in Novorossiysk from 1885 to 1886. He lost his job in Taganrog because he wrote a story. This story was about problems with local customs officials. He published it in the Odessa newspaper.
Writing Names and Family Life
Alexander wrote under several pen names. These were fake names he used for his writing. Some of his pen names were Agafopod, Agafopod Edinitsin, and Aloe. Later, he used the name A. Gray.
He got married when he was young. Sadly, his first wife passed away in 1888. The next year, he married Natalya, who was the governess for his children. Their son, Michael Chekhov, became a famous actor.
Alexander Chekhov passed away in 1913. He died from throat cancer. He was buried in the literary section of the Volkovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg.
