The Musk Ox

The date placed under the story (“Paris. 28 November 1862”) and first appearing in the journal text has been preserved in the collected works, even though in other items of this edition there are no dates. Evidently, Leskov attached special importance to it—not so much to the date itself as to the indication of the place where the story was written. Perhaps this concealed a hint at the history Leskov had experienced in connection with his article about fires—the one that became the main reason for his departure abroad (see in the book by Andrey Leskov, “The Life of Nikolai Leskov,” Moscow, 1954, chapters: “The Catastrophe” and “Escape”).

The journal text “The Ox-Biter” underwent substantial authorial revision when it was reprinted in the 1867 collection and was slightly shortened in the collected works. For example, chapter XI, ending with the words: “She (Nastassya Petrovna) pushed the candle closer and stared at the flame, squinting slightly her beautiful eyes,” had in the journal and in the collection the following continuation:

“— Nastassya Petrovna! — I said, taking her by the hand.

— What?

— After all, he loves you.

The young woman lowered her eyes and, after a minute, stood up and began pacing around the room.”

Later Leskov rejected this detail—probably so as not to complicate the story of the suicide with the motive of love.