A Journey to the End of the Russian Empire (Penguin Great Journeys)

Overwhelmed by what he felt was the worthlessness of his great success as a writer, Chekhov decided to leave everything behind him and go to the far reaches of Siberia to the terrible Russian penal colony on Sakhalin Island. This book mixes his witty, charming letters back to friends on his long journey with his grim account of the reality of life in one of the worst places on earth.