Znamenityi Anton Pavlovich Chekhov(1860 - 1904) pervye shagi v russkoi literature delal pod psevdonimami Antosha Chekhonte i "Chelovek bez selezenki" kak avtor iumoristicheskikh rasskazov i feletonov, kotorye izdavali v iumoristicheskikh moskovskikh i peterburgskikh zhurnalakh. Imenno pervye knigi A. Chekhova - "Skazki Melpomeny", "Pestrye rasskazy" - vkliucheny v etu knigu, raskryvaiushchuiu iumoristicheskii talant priznannogo v mire pisatelia.