How did Anton Chekhov become famous?

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By the time he completed medical school (1884), Chekhov had been writing fiction for several years—mainly anecdotes for humour magazines. His first work in a leading literary review, “Steppe” (1888), depicted a journey in the Ukraine as seen through a child’s eyes. This work, along with the play Ivanov (1887–89), brought Chekhov acclaim.