A playful and sharp-witted entry point into Russian literature, Belkins Stories presents five brief tales full of love, irony, and the unexpectedeach narrated secondhand by the elusive Ivan Belkin. From duels and blizzards to ghostly encounters and ruined romances, Pushkin uses popular 19th-century genres to satirize society and illuminate human nature.

Also included is A History of Goryukhino Village, a mock-serious chronicle of rural life that slyly pokes fun at memoirs and local histories. Together, these works show Pushkin at his most charming and inventiveaccessible, clever, and full of surprises. This new translation includes illustrations and an in-depth look at Pushkins life and literary legacy.