Greatest Russian Stories

by Various

“ Everything is subordinated to two main requirements— humanitarian ideals and fidelity to life. This is the secret of the marvellous simplicity of Russian literary art.” — Thomas Seltzer When the greatest writers of Russia penned stories, they created iconic works that were not just centred in their own country but spoke of something universal in nature. This is why people still partake in the simple delights of Russian fiction. From stories addressing love, human welfare, political turmoil, to the struggle of common man and class issues, this is art that moves, inspires, and closely mirrors life itself. This collection is a treasure trove that holds the greatest stories of the most celebrated writers of Russian and world literature, including Alexander Pushkin’ s ‘ The Queen of Spades’ , Fyodor Dostoevsky’ s ‘ White Nights’ , Anton Chekhov’ s ‘ The Lady with the Dog’ and ‘ The Bet’ , Tolstoy’ s ‘ How Much Land Does a Man Need’ and ‘ Where Love Is There God Is Also’ , and many more.

376 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Nishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐

I only picked Greatest Russian Stories up because my library had a copy of this book and it was added in new arrivals section. I am glad I borrowed this.

With my biased inclination towards Nikolai Gogol, my favourite story was Memoirs of a Madman. I read stories from Pushkin, Ivan Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov for the first time. Enjoyed discovering and reading them.

This curated collection includes below stories:

1. Alexander Pushkin
-Queen of Spades
-The Postmaster
-The Pistol Shot

2. Nikolai Gogol
-Memoirs of a Madman

3. Ivan Turgenev
-Death

4. Fyodor Dostoevsky
-The Heavenly Christmas Tree
-White Nights

5. Leo Tolstoy
-Where Love Is There God Is Also
-How Much Land Does a Man Need
-The Story of Ivan the Fool

6. Anton Chekhov
-The Lady with the Dog
-The Bet
-The Kiss
-The Black Monk

If you are into classics and want to explore several authors together, this volume is perfect for you!

[Shyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Russian short stories feel very different from many other collections I've read. They don't just entertain - they dig into human greed, suffering, longing, and the fragile hopes of ordinary people. This anthology brings together some of the greatest voices in Russian literature, and each story carries its own weight.
Pushkin
- The Queen of Spades: a brilliant tale of greed, showing how obsession can consume a man until he loses his mind.
- The Postmaster: heartbreaking, as a father suffers when his daughter leaves him for wealth.
- The Pistol Shot: a reminder that even admired figures carry hidden pride.

Gogol
- Memoirs of a Madman: one of my favorites. Told from the POV of a madman, it feels strange and unsettling from the very beginning, pulling us into his distorted world.

Turgenev
- Death: a haunting story, strange in its portrayal of people dying one by one, leaving you unsettled.

Dostoevsky
- The Heavenly Christmas Tree: deeply moving, it made me cry.
- White Nights: a tender story about love, expectations, and the ache of unfulfilled dreams.

Tolstoy
- Ivan the Fool: a moral fable showing that even foolishness can defeat the devil.
- How Much Land Does a Man Need?: a timeless lesson on greed and the importance of being satisfied with what you have.
- Where Love Is, There God Is Also: a story about service and compassion, teaching that serving others is serving God.

Chekhov
- The Bet: a fascinating contrast between two men: one immersed in society, the other isolated but finding wisdom through books and meditation.
- The Black Monk: a chilling exploration of delusion and obsession, showing how fragile the human mind can be.
- The Lady with the Dog: Stories of lovers longing but unable to be together capture the ache of missed chances with quiet brilliance.
- The Bet: a brilliant contrast between two men: one deeply tied to society and constantly tense, and the other isolated but gaining wisdom through books, meditation, and self‑reflection. It shows how solitude can bring clarity, while constant social pressure can drain a person.