Mikhail Alekseevich Kuzmin (1872; within his own mythology—1875–1936) is a well-known Russian poet, musician, and composer, one of the most distinctive representatives of the Silver Age.
“First Collection of Stories” was published in 1910 by the legendary publishing house “Scorpion.” The book includes the novella “Wings,” which brought Kuzmin nationwide fame. Alexander Blok called “Wings” wonderful, and Nikolai Gumilyov considered “The Sofa of Aunt Sonya” the best story. In general, Kuzmin’s early prose is perceived as crystal-clear, pure, Platonic, and beautiful—no wonder readers gave him the title “King of Esthetes.”