Ian’s review of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and Other Stories > Likes and Comments
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Any idea on the cover art Ian?
zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"
Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG Images"
Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"
Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG Images""
Thanks, Ian. I would read this book if I find a copy.
I was intrigued by the cover art and that was what also came up while searching, but I am not sure that that is it. After looking at Google images that is not correct. Penguin have got the wrong endnote IMO.
zed wrote: "Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"
Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG..."
Your response sent me down my some Internet rabbit holes! It seems a very obscure work and as far as I can tell is no longer at the Tretyakov Gallery. I eventually found a reference to it in a website called "hippostcard.com" where it was listed as "USSR Kazan beauty Zulfiyya Zaripov nude tatar girl." Note the use of the double "y" in "Zulfiyya", whereas the Penguin book used only one. We are of course transliterating from Cyrillic here.
Zaripov does seem to have been from Kazan, so that fits as well.
Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"
Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery..."
I have spent time since posting looking and got absolutely nowhere. I like to think I can find things, but this one utterly failed me. The original of Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty is a not on the only site I can find with his art, Soviet Art, USSR Culture. that site says "One of the distinctive features of his style is the decorative expressiveness that is consonant with the folkloric sources of the culture of the Tatar people." I found that cover very distinctive, and I like his art.
Great work and thanks Ian. I appreciate you finding this.
Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk sounds particularly interesting. Love the title of that story and like zed was interested in the cover - in my mind it went very well with the idea of Katerina. I agree with you, it takes a good author to keep changing your opinion of a major character.
Caroline wrote: "Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk sounds particularly interesting. Love the title of that story and like zed was interested in the cover - in my mind it went very well with the idea of Katerina. I agree with..."
Thanks very much Caroline! You may say that Katerina was a woman of passion!
The composer Dmitri Shostakovich adapted the story into an opera, though I've never seen any of it. Apparently it got Shostakovich into trouble, because Stalin didn't like the adaptation.
Such a shame these weren't better, considering the page length!
Berengaria wrote: "Such a shame these weren't better, considering the page length!"
Yes, they were at least quite readable. I didn't take too long finishing the book. I should maybe have held it over for the LBC!
Interesting. I like your comments on the author’s manipulation of their reader’s emotions. That’s a sure sign of elite writing. I haven’t felt that way since A Game of Thrones.
Sportyrod wrote: "Interesting. I like your comments on the author’s manipulation of their reader’s emotions. That’s a sure sign of elite writing. I haven’t felt that way since A Game of Thrones."
It's a real skill isn't it - to get the reader to identify with these invented characters, to the extent their fate affects our emotions?
The 1st story sounds well worth the read.
Linda wrote: "The 1st story sounds well worth the read."
Worth it if you can find a standalone copy Linda.
Really interesting review, Ian. I'd be drawn in by the the title - I suppose the connection is evident in the narrative! How about the Shakespearian Lady MacBeth? How do you feel about her?
Life was so hard long ago and for people such as Katerina's family. I'm sure it gave people different moral standards.
J.C. wrote: "Really interesting review, Ian. I'd be drawn in by the the title - I suppose the connection is evident in the narrative! How about the Shakespearian Lady MacBeth? How do you feel about her?
Life wa..."
Thanks Jeanne. This is another occasion where I would recommend reading Jan-Maat's review, where he comments that the link with Lady Macbeth is a tenuous one. Seemingly Leskov based the story on a real case he had heard about, where local people compared the central character to Lady Macbeth. This was, I think, simply on the basis she had committed evil deeds. I don't how how closely the story mirrored the real-life events.
I personally thought Katerina's actions went beyond anything that might be explained by her circumstances, but I think part of the story's message is that, once you start down the road of wrongdoing, it can be hard to stop.
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Jul 20, 2026 12:18AM
Any idea on the cover art Ian?
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zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG Images"
Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG Images""
Thanks, Ian. I would read this book if I find a copy.
I was intrigued by the cover art and that was what also came up while searching, but I am not sure that that is it. After looking at Google images that is not correct. Penguin have got the wrong endnote IMO.
zed wrote: "Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery, Russia/AKG..."
Your response sent me down my some Internet rabbit holes! It seems a very obscure work and as far as I can tell is no longer at the Tretyakov Gallery. I eventually found a reference to it in a website called "hippostcard.com" where it was listed as "USSR Kazan beauty Zulfiyya Zaripov nude tatar girl." Note the use of the double "y" in "Zulfiyya", whereas the Penguin book used only one. We are of course transliterating from Cyrillic here.
Zaripov does seem to have been from Kazan, so that fits as well.
Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Ian wrote: "zed wrote: "Any idea on the cover art Ian?"Hi zed! The edition has an endnote saying "Cover: Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty, oil on canvas, 1975 by Ildar Zaripov. Tretyakov Gallery..."
I have spent time since posting looking and got absolutely nowhere. I like to think I can find things, but this one utterly failed me. The original of Zulfiya, Kazan Beauty is a not on the only site I can find with his art, Soviet Art, USSR Culture. that site says "One of the distinctive features of his style is the decorative expressiveness that is consonant with the folkloric sources of the culture of the Tatar people." I found that cover very distinctive, and I like his art.
Great work and thanks Ian. I appreciate you finding this.
Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk sounds particularly interesting. Love the title of that story and like zed was interested in the cover - in my mind it went very well with the idea of Katerina. I agree with you, it takes a good author to keep changing your opinion of a major character.
Caroline wrote: "Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk sounds particularly interesting. Love the title of that story and like zed was interested in the cover - in my mind it went very well with the idea of Katerina. I agree with..."Thanks very much Caroline! You may say that Katerina was a woman of passion!
The composer Dmitri Shostakovich adapted the story into an opera, though I've never seen any of it. Apparently it got Shostakovich into trouble, because Stalin didn't like the adaptation.
Such a shame these weren't better, considering the page length!
Berengaria wrote: "Such a shame these weren't better, considering the page length!"Yes, they were at least quite readable. I didn't take too long finishing the book. I should maybe have held it over for the LBC!
Interesting. I like your comments on the author’s manipulation of their reader’s emotions. That’s a sure sign of elite writing. I haven’t felt that way since A Game of Thrones.
Sportyrod wrote: "Interesting. I like your comments on the author’s manipulation of their reader’s emotions. That’s a sure sign of elite writing. I haven’t felt that way since A Game of Thrones."It's a real skill isn't it - to get the reader to identify with these invented characters, to the extent their fate affects our emotions?
The 1st story sounds well worth the read.
Linda wrote: "The 1st story sounds well worth the read."Worth it if you can find a standalone copy Linda.
Really interesting review, Ian. I'd be drawn in by the the title - I suppose the connection is evident in the narrative! How about the Shakespearian Lady MacBeth? How do you feel about her?Life was so hard long ago and for people such as Katerina's family. I'm sure it gave people different moral standards.
J.C. wrote: "Really interesting review, Ian. I'd be drawn in by the the title - I suppose the connection is evident in the narrative! How about the Shakespearian Lady MacBeth? How do you feel about her?Life wa..."
Thanks Jeanne. This is another occasion where I would recommend reading Jan-Maat's review, where he comments that the link with Lady Macbeth is a tenuous one. Seemingly Leskov based the story on a real case he had heard about, where local people compared the central character to Lady Macbeth. This was, I think, simply on the basis she had committed evil deeds. I don't how how closely the story mirrored the real-life events.
I personally thought Katerina's actions went beyond anything that might be explained by her circumstances, but I think part of the story's message is that, once you start down the road of wrongdoing, it can be hard to stop.