Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, one of the leading figures of 19th-century Russian literature, wrote “Sakhalin Island” following his long journey in 1890 to Sakhalin, the largest island in Russia. During this journey, Chekhov systematically recorded his observations and impressions, which formed the basis of his work. Composed with an objective and analytical approach, the book goes beyond literary expression to function as a sociological and scientific document. In the work, Chekhov presents official documents, statistical data, anecdotal narratives, individual portraits, and descriptions of nature within a coherent structure. In addition to Sakhalin’s historical, geographical, and physical features, the book offers a detailed analysis of the island’s social, economic, and moral conditions. This study first examines the formal and artistic characteristics of “Sakhalin Island”, and then focuses on key social elements such as the living conditions of convicts and settlers, the penal and prison systems, labor organization, economic structure, the status of women and children, and access to education and healthcare. Through these aspects, the work provides a comprehensive account of exile life on Sakhalin Island under Tsarist rule at the end of the 19th century.

Keywords: 19th-century Russian literature, Chekhov, Sakhalin Island, travel notes, exile