Traits of cultured people, by Anton Chekhov

“your talent puts you in a special position: if you were a toad or a tarantula, even then you would be respected, as everything is forgiven to a talent.“

Today I want to present you with another translation, also Chekhov, but this time it's one of his letters.

Anton Pavlovich was only 26 when he wrote this emotional and frank letter to his almost 28-year old brother, a talented artist but a weak-willed man who at that time was wallowing in self-pity and hurting himself and his friends and relatives. Anton Pavlovich knew all of Nikolai's weaknesses, was worried about him and upset by his brother's neglect of his talent. He said once: "A great Russian talent is perishing, perishing for nothing."

Please enjoy the letter and the richness of the footnotes.

Anton Chekhov (left) with his brother Nikolai Chekhov.

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From Anton Pavlovich Chekhov to Nikolai Pavlovich Chekhov

March 1886, Moscow