Laughter and Grief

The novella “Laughter and Grief” depicts “the strange unexpectedness of Russian life” in a funny and tragic way—only, upon careful examination, it turns out to be paradoxically close to today’s “strange unexpectedness.” It is not as well-known to the general reader as “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District,” “Lefty,” or “The Liar Artist.” It is different. But it contains the main features of Leskov’s artistic manner: an engaging plot, vivid characters, paradoxical sharpness of conflicts, a “tale,” keen attention to details and signs of contemporary reality.