What's Inside
This collection assembles the foundational short fiction of Russia’s central literary figure, ranging from military dramas to supernatural satire. The volume opens with a biography of the author before moving through narratives of social maneuvering and vengeful patience. In these pages, a soldier named Silvio waits years for the perfect moment to return a shot, a village historian obsesses over an old letter-writer, and a postmaster struggles against the indignities of his low civil rank. The works alternate between the rigid etiquette of the guardroom and the lawless movement of gypsy camps, detailing the friction between old Russian traditions and imported French sensibilities.
Works & figures
- Silvio
A gloomy former Hussar who lives for a long-delayed revenge. (in “THE PISTOL SHOT”)
- Adrian Prohoroff
An undertaker who moves his business to a new yellow house. (in “THE UNDERTAKER”)
- Ibrahim
The African godson of the Emperor, educated in Parisian military schools. (in “PETER THE GREAT'S NEGRO”)
- Kirdjali
A Bulgarian knight-errant who brings terror to Moldavia. (in “KIRDJALI”)
- Maria
A tall heiress who falls in love with a poor ensign. (in “THE SNOWSTORM”)
What it's really about
- Fatalism
- Characters face choices dictated by chance, cards, or weather.
- Class Hierarchy
- The 14th-class postmaster and nobility navigate rigid social standing.
Why it's memorable
- A man eating cherries while his opponent takes aim during a duel.
- A tame bear lying free behind the ragged tents of a gypsy camp.
Where to start
Start with The Pistol Shot for a concentrated look at the code of honor and the absurdity of a long-simmering grudge.
For your book club
- The role of French novels in shaping the romantic expectations of young Russian heiresses.
- The contrast between the structured life of the military and the freedom of the gypsies.