The collected works of Chekhov in 5 volumes, prepared by the "Azbuka" publishing house in the anniversary year of Chekhov, is a unique project that has no analogs in the book market. This collection is organized not chronologically, but by thematic principle. Its concept was proposed by the renowned literary scholar, specialist in the works of A. P. Chekhov, professor at St. Petersburg State University, Igor Nikolaevich Sukikh. Chekhov repeatedly contemplated the idea of a large novel and even started working on it. This novel even had a title — "Stories from the Lives of My Friends", and it was supposed to consist of separate stories closely linked by common themes and characters. This idea was not destined to come to fruition, yet we can attempt to piece together, reconstruct the chapters and parts of an imagined Chekhovian novel, which is what has been undertaken in this edition. Each volume is preceded by an introductory article by the compiler, and the texts are accompanied by detailed comments from professor A. D. Stepanov of St. Petersburg State University.
