It’s a pity that we study Russian classics too early at school. When you don’t have your own life experience yet and it’s hard to understand the psychology of the characters — their happiness and their grief. But after growing up, we rarely return to the school curriculum. “Classics’ Heroes: After-school for Adults” are additional courses for those who missed the chance of a real meeting with the world of Russian literature — or who want to go deeper, so they can speak with their children on equal terms and help them with homework. It’s useful for high school students and teachers — when preparing for an essay, for the Unified State Exam. On the pages of this book, Russian classics come alive — along with a host of strange and dramatic characters. It’s an exciting journey into the literary backstage, where we see how the heroes of the classics are born, grow, and influence one another.
Alexander Arkhangelsky is a well-known Russian writer, philologist, professor at the Higher School of Economics, author of a literature textbook for 10th grade and many online video lessons, and host of the program “Meanwhile” on the TV channel “Culture.”