Great Russian Short Stories

by Norris Houghton (Editor)

From romanticism to realism, nineteenth-century Russian fiction gave the world masterworks of the imagination from such authors as Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Gorky, and Turgenev. This outstanding collection now allows readers to experience their themes, styles, and characters in thirteen carefully selected short stories - tales that fully reveal the quintessential nature of the Russian writer creating under the tsars. From Pushkin at the beginning of the period, whose work contains the essence of what Russian realism would become, to Gorky, who bridged the days of the 1917 Revolution in his brilliant writings, they were artists moved by the spirit of their land, new political ideas and ideals, and the ancient, dark soul of the Slavic people. Passionate or violent, tormented, humorous, cynical, or shining with unparalleled lyricism, these are magnificent stories created by some of the greatest authors of all time. [Edited and Introduced by Norris Houghton]

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Russia, Classics, Anthologies, Literature, Russian Literature

383 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1967

About the author

Norris Houghton has had a distinguisheed career in the American Theatre as producer, director, designer and teacher. One of the founders of the Phoenix Theatre in New York, he is presently Professor of Drama at Vassar College. He is the author of ADVANCE FROM BROADWAY, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN, MOSCOW REHEARSALS, and, most recently, its sequel, RETURN ENGAGEMENT. The Laurel Editions of GREAT RUSSIAN SHORT STORIES and GREAT RUSSIAN PLAYS are edited and introduced by him.

Reviews

[Peter Corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were not especially 'easy' stories to read, that is not the way of Russian writers and certainly not during that period of what the cover calls the 'Golden' Age of Russian literature, say 1820-1910. The 'superstars' of Russian literature are here--Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, the greats--Pushkin, Gorky, Chekov, Turgenev. Not as sure about some of the lesser lights--Andreyev, Kuprin, Saltykov. But these stores are Old Russia, with all of its bizarre and strange rituals, tortured souls, twisted socio-economic reality (this is pre- and post-serfdom, 1865). And always with the ever-present Russian landscape, vast, unforgiving, extreme. Can anyone describe the smell of melting snow better than the Russians? I am very glad I read these as I have a new window into some 'new' authors and insights into the greats. All told it is hard to top Leo Tolstoy. 'What Men Live By' (the most overtly 'religious' by far) and 'Kholstomer' (fascinating use of 'defamiliarization) were both deep and powerful. Outright humor is in short supply in these stories but there is some, most notably in the extreme satire in Dostoevsky's 'The Crocodile' and Saltykov's 'How a Muzhik (peasant) Fed Two Officials'. Human foibles and social dysfunction are two of the recurring themes of Russian literature and the while Chekov's stories may deal most adroitly with the former, Andreyev's 'The Seven Who Were Hanged' is perhaps most illustrative of the latter. Revolutionaries (presumably anarchist) facing death for a bomb plot is one of the more serious stories, although strangely bereft of real internal reflection by the characters. Interestingly, it was said on one site (BBC Arts) that it was the 'inspiration' for the Sarajevo Black-Hand plotters in 1914 that kicked off WW1. Not sure why anyone reading it would say, 'gee that sounds like a good idea!', but I guess you never know what people will end up thinking.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of some of my favorites. Second time through. Just as great as the first. Turgenev, Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, the old gang which helped encourage my teenage self, giving voice.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to the Russian short stories of the late 19th century. I found it on my parents' bookshelves while visiting home after grad school, and needed to give my brain something fresh to chew on, so dug right in. This ancient copy (1958!) has been taped back together three times to no avail, because I keep dropping back in to visit with Pushkin, Tolstoy, and especially Chekhov. I think I might need to learn Russian so I can read the original text.

[Michael McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I'm finished. What a book of short stories. I concentrated on the last one today, the novella by Leonid Andreyev, entitled "The Seven Who Were Hanged."

If I had to compare it to something else, Andreyev's novella, I would say that it reminded me, in all of its depth of feeling, to a short novel I read by Anuk Arudpragasam, called "The Story of a Brief Marriage."

Both are different of course insofar as one is by a Russian and the other by a Sri Lankan, but they are both so moving at a core, fundamental level, and both involve death. Both are stories of tragedy.

All the while I was thinking, while reading the Andreyev novella, that if we Westerners can have, as part of our "Counter Insurgency" doctrine and efforts the tactic of trying to persuade terrorists to not be terrorists, by appealing to them as human beings, and then releasing them, then it is doubly tragic that these fine young people, who were caught up in their "Organization" against the Tsar's government, paid with their lives for a mistake that they could have been persuaded, humanely, not to make again.

[Edwin Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best stories are (always) by Tolstoy as he has a clear sense of good vs. evil in his characters as well as Dostoevsky's A Gentle Spirit. Pushkin's Queen of Spades is good as is Turgenev's story of the young boys in Bezin Meadows. Gorky's In The Steppes is also a good tale about three thieves even though it is told from what seems an atheist point of view that the thieves are no more evil or good than anybody else they meet along their path.
Andreyev's story about the 7 condemned to hang is like Crime And Punishment in that it's all about their thoughts days before being hung, but was mostly a Yawner. Three others were not only yawners but ridiculous farces: Saltykov's How A Muzhik.... , Dostoevsky's The Crocodile and Kuprin's The Outrage.

[Rachael Malfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a pleasure to read. Great variety in terms of styles. And the last one in the book is exquisite.

[Tammy Downing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Rina Rina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorites were Kholstomer and the Seven Who Were Hanged.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

cheapie anthology bookended by two utterly brilliant works from each end of russian's golden age of literature, pushkin's "the queen of spades" and andreyev's "the seven who were hanged". the rest is kind of a mixed bag through some of russian literature's bigger names. of those i'm familiar with, the lermontov story has some nice baltic atmosphere, the turgenev has a ridiculously over the top "russian" ending, the two tolstoys are amongst the weakest i've read from him (though still enjoyable in some ways), and chekhov's anna on the neck ranks somewhere in the middle. i skipped chekhov's lady with the little dog and both the dostoevsky stories (crocodile, gentle spirit) because i had already read them. of the authors i was not familiar with previously, the saltykov was silly but incredibly short, the kuprin was incredibly amusing and witty, and the gorky was a little bleak, but again, a bit too short to get a feeling for the author's capabilities. i'm certainly interested in digging through these three some more

[Ragnhildur · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, some stories are better than others of course. On the whole though, the book had a profound effect on me. I would recommend it to anyone, without doubt.

[Oumaima Rouky · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the stories are amazing but what I loved most was "A Gentle Spirit"

[Lynn Lipinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved the last one, The Seven Who Were Hanged, by Leonid Andreyev, and Leo Tolstoy's What Men Live By.

[Jamie Barringer (Ravenmount) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good selection of authors, but not the best of their stories.