A Nervous Breakdown

'I did have hallucinations, but did they harm anyone? Who did they harm, that's what I'd like to know!' This title features three disturbing tales of supernatural hallucinations, hysterical obsession and moral decay. It includes fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), the grandson of a former serf and son of a grocer, was born in Taganrog, a port in Southern Russia. His childhood was overshadowed by his frightening father, but he was close to his mother. While he was at university, his father was defrauded and went bankrupt, leaving the family in dire financial straits; Chekhov supported them almost single-handedly by selling stories and sketches to magazines. Although a doctor by profession, he soon became famous for his brilliant stories and plays, and is today recognized as one of the greatest short story writers of all time.