Nikolai Semenovich Leskov

Books in the ‘Rereading the Classics’ series give a modern analysis of the works that form part of school literature curricula. This is the first attempt to provide a detailed insight into the spiritual, moral and religious aspects of the art of 19th and 20th century Russian writers. The series is offered as the basis of modern knowledge about Russian literature, which is necessary to high school students to pass school-leaving examinations and to gain admission to any institution of higher learning.

This manual is devoted to the creative work of N.S. Leskov who was, in Maxim Gorky’s words, ‘the most original Russian writer’. The introductory chapter gives an idea of Leskov’s difficult literary fate, specific problems of his art and the vivid original style of his works. In the other chapters, the author analyzes the writer’s most popular short stories and novelettes – ‘The Enchanted Wanderer’, ‘Iron Will’, ‘The Tale of the Cross-eyes Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea’, ‘Toupee Artist’.

For teachers of schools, lyceums and gymnasiums, students, senior pupils, entrants and philologists.