RUDN Journal of Studies in Literature and JournalismRUDN Journal of Studies in Literature and Journalism2312-92202312-9247Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)2693210.22363/2312-9220-2021-26-2-169-176Research ArticleAnton Chekhov’s Sakhalin Island: An Ongoing CommentarySpachilOlga V.<p>Candidate of Philology, Associate Professor, English Philology Chair</p>spachil.olga0@gmail.comKuban State University0207202126216917602072021Copyright © 2021, Spachil O.V.2021<p style="text-align: justify;">A study of the currently existing translations of Anton Chekhovs Sakhalin Island (From Travel Notes) (Luba and Michael Terpak - 1967, Brian Reeve - 1993) shows that the reason for some errors in translated texts is not always due to the negligence of translators, which is so clearly noticeable in the first translation, but rather in the incomprehensibi- lity for foreigners of some realia in the original text. Reference to two available Сommentaries on Sakhalin Island, by M.L. Semanova (1985) and M.S. Vysokov (2010), as well as to the works of other Chekhov scholars, did not give the sought-after explanations of certain vague excerpts from the book. Those obscure excerpts are also poorly understood by the Russian readership. In particular, we are talking about Chekhovs mention of the use of a naval rope in the surgical department (Chapter VII) and the perception of the status of a class feldscher/paramedic (Chapter XII). The author of the article offers her own commentary on difficult-to-understand passages and thus fills the gap that has arisen. Conclusions are drawn about the need to continue to provide Chekhovs Sakhalin Island with commentaries and notes. Such commentary should serve two purposes. Its linguistic and cultural character should help to clarify the realias not only for representatives of a foreign linguistic culture - in order to prevent gross errors in translations, but also for the present-day Russian reader, separated from the time when A.P. Chekhovs book was written by almost one hundred and thirty years.</p>A.P. ChekhovSakhalin IslandcommentaryLuba and Michael TerpakBrian ReevetranslationА.П. ЧеховОстров СахалинкомментарийЛюба и Михаил ТерпакБрайан Ривперевод[Chekhov, A.P. (1978). Complete works and letters. Vols. 14–15. Works: Iz Sibiri; Ostrov Sakhalin. 1890–1895. Moscow, Nauka Publ. (In Russ.)][Sharma, A. (2015, February 2). Chekhov’s beautiful nonfiction. The New Yorker. Retrieved March 20, 2021, from https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/chekhovs-beautiful-nonfiction][Semanova, M.L. (1978). Notes. In A.P. Chekhov, Complete works and letters. Vols. 14–15. Essays (pp. 740–926). Moscow, Nauka Publ. (In Russ.)][Vysokov, M.S. (2010). Commentary on the book by A.P. Chekhov “Sakhalin Island”. Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. (In Russ.)][Chekhov, A. (1967). The Island: A Journey to Sakhalin (L. & M. Terpak, Trans.). New York: Washington Square Press, 374 p.][Chekhov, A. (2015). Sakhalin Island (B. Reeve, Trans.). United Kingdom, Richmond, Alma Classics.][Malgen, Zh.F. (1883). Guide to Operative Surgery by J.-F. Malgaigne (trans. from the 8th fr. edition; I.I. Nasilov, Ed.). Medical Library Journal. Saint Perersburg. (In Russ.)][Bobrov, A.A. (1908). Course of operative surgery (I.P. Aleksinskii, Ed.). Moscow, Sklad izdaniya v knizhnom magazine Kartseva Publ. (In Russ.)][Paramedicine and paramedics. Military paramedics. (1902). Entsiklopedicheskiy slovar' Brokgauza i Yefrona, 35, 442–443. (In Russ.)][European poetics from Antiquity to the Age of Enlightenment: An encyclopedic guide. (2010). Moscow, Izdatel'stvo Kulaginoy Publ., Intrada Publ. (In Russ.)]