Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) is regarded by many as both the greatest Russian storyteller and the father of modern drama. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and he was the author of hundreds of short stories, the best of which are held in the highest esteem by writers and critics. Ronald Wilks (translator) studied Russian language and literature at Trinity College, Cambridge, and later Russian literature at London University, where he received his PhD in 1972. He has translated The Little Demon by Sologub; My Childhood , In the World , and My Universities by Gorky; The Golovlyov Family by Saltykov-Shchedrin; and four volumes of stories by Chekhov: The Kiss and Other Stories , The Duel and Other Stories , The Party and Other Stories , and The Fiancée and Other Stories. Coralie Bickford-Smith (cover illustrator) is an award-winning designer at Penguin Books, where she has created several highly acclaimed series designs. She studied typography at Reading University and lives in London.