一九五四年七月十四日是十九世纪俄国的批判现实主义的大师之一,小说家,戏剧家安东·契诃夫逝世五十周年纪念。契诃夫是最受中国读者欢迎的作家之一:他的大部分小说已有中文译本,传诵很广;他的重要剧作,亦经译出,并有几种上演,受到观众的喜爱。他的大量的富於独创性的文学作品具有鲜明的人民性:忠实地反映了当时社会情况,并喊出了当时俄国人民的愿望和要求;也从而丰富了世界的文化遗产。中国人民以高度的热爱和敬意来纪念他。早在一九二一年,契诃夫的四部多幕剧:‘海鸥’、‘伊凡诺夫’、‘万尼亚舅舅’、‘樱桃园‘就翻译过来了。一九二五年出版第五种‘三姊妹’。一九二九年出版一部‘短剧选集’:‘蠢货’、‘求婚’、‘纪念日’、‘婚礼’。一九三○年译出了一套短篇小说集,选译了一百六十二篇,分为八册出版。一九四九年另有一套选集出版,选译小说六十四篇,分为三册;有的是首次翻译的,为前一辑所未录。一九五○年又有一套选集开始问 July 14, 1954 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Anton Chekhov, one of the nineteenth-century Russian critics of realism, the novelist and dramatist. Chekhov is one of the most popular writers in China: most of his novels have been translated into Chinese and have widely circulated. His important plays have also been translated, and several have been staged and enjoyed by the audience. His vast and original literary work has a distinctly human character: it faithfully reflects the prevailing social conditions and calls for the wishes and demands of the Russian people at the time; and thus enriches the world’s cultural heritage. The Chinese people honor him with a high degree of love and respect. As early as 1921, Chekhov’s four multi-screen plays: Seagull, Ivanov, Uncle Vanya, Cherry Garden were translated. The fifth “Three Sisters” was published in 1925. In 1929 he published a selection of drama series: Stupid, Proposal, Anniversary, and Wedding. In 1930 a set of short stories was translated and 162 were selected for publication in eight volumes. Another set of books was published in 1949, with 64 selected novels translated into three volumes; some were translated for the first time and were not recorded in the previous series. Another set of episodes began in 1950