Leskov's short stories exploded the conventions of nineteenth-century Russian fiction. Rooted in the oral storytelling tradition, focused on the everyman, innovative in form and rich in wordplay, these 17 tales are narrated by garrulous storytellers to an audience of other characters--allowing us, as readers, to join a group of listeners. The tales--fantastic and yet always grounded in reality--are populated by serfs, princes, military officers, Gypsy girls, wayward monks, horse dealers, and nom...