How was life like for Russians in Chekhov’s time?

Question by callieRach: How was life like for Russians in the 1890’s (characters in Chekhov’s The Seagull)?
I’m doing research on Chekhov’s play The Seagull.
I’m having trouble finding the lifestyle of the people in that play during that time. Links to more information would be much appreciated.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Slava T
Try search http://www.jstor.org/action/cookieAbsent for articles on that period of the Russian history. All stuff is free.
Look what I found in a couple of clicks:
“Chekhov’s Attitude towards Life” George Z. Patrick;
“Historical References in Chekhov’s Later Stories”, D. W. Martin;
“Stuffed Seagulls: Parody and the Reception of Chekhov’s Plays”, Laurence Senelick;
“Chekhov and the Soviet Village Prose Writers: Affinities of Fact and Fiction”, Arnold McMillin;
“In Service to Science and Society: Scientists and the Public in Late-Nineteenth-Century Russia”
Elizabeth A. Hachten;
and loads more.

Read all the answers in the comments.

Know better? Leave your own answer!