Sakhalin Island

"Sakhalin Island," published in 1895, was immediately dubbed a talented and serious book; it is a witness's account not only of hard labor, shackles, cells, escapes, and the gallows, but more importantly, a thoughtful person's perspective on exile in general. The focus of Chekhov-the-researcher, Chekhov-the-artist is the problem of the convict's personality, a simple, unfortunate man. The book also includes nine essays united under the common authorial title "From Siberia."