Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ( January 29 , 1860 - July 15 , 1904 ) was a Russian writer who wrote short stories and plays . and above ) . Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ( , ; 29 January 1860 â `` 15 July 1904 ) was a Russian short-story writer , playwright and physician , considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers in the history of world literature .