"The Shooting Party" is a triangular love story-cum-murder mystery novel and Chekhov's only novel. Not many people are aware of the fact that before becoming the celebrated short story writer and playwright he tried his hands at novel writing. One can witness the birth of Chekhov's unique style (although in its infancy) for which he would be later remembered for.
Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a Russian physician, dramaturge and author who is often referred to as one of the seminal figures in the birth of early modernism in the theatre. He made no apologies for the difficulties he posed to the readers, insisting that the role of an artist was to ask questions, not to answer them.