Fet’s creative legacy is, in reality, far broader and more diverse than it is usually presented within a school curriculum. He is accustomed to being seen as an inspired singer of nature—Russian and European—and as a poet-philosopher, but his gift isn’t limited to that. He created exquisite love lyrics, wrote unusual ballads—both realistic and mystical—with a gentle warmth praising calm, idyllic life on a noble estate. He was also an outstanding connoisseur of ancient poetry, able to expertly stylize his own texts after ancient models. All these facets of his talent are reflected, in equal measure, in the content of this book.