Muutamia vuosia sitten eli eraalla maatilallaan vanha, venalainen bajari Kirila Petrovitsch Troekurov. Hanen rikkautensa, ylhainen sukuperansa ja sukulaisuussuhteensa saattoivat hanet suureen arvoon siina kuvernementissa, jossa hanen tiluksensa oli. Koska hanella oli kaikkea, mita tarvitsi, niin tottui han noudattamaan kaikkia tulisen luonteensa oikkuja ja paahanpistojaan. Naapurit olivat iloissaan, kun voivat tayttaa hanen pienimmatkin mielitekonsa; kuvernementin virkamiehet vapisivat kuullessaan hanen nimensa. Kirila Petrovitsch piti kaikkia hanelle osoitettuja kohteliaisuuksia ikaankuin...

Mon pere, Andre Petrovitch Grineff, apres avoir servi dans sa jeunesse sous le comte Munich, avait quitte letat militaire en 17... avec le grade de premier major. Depuis ce temps, il avait constamment habite sa terre du gouvernement de Simbirsk, ou il epousa Mlle Avdotia, 1ere fille dun pauvre gentilhomme du voisinage. Des neuf enfants issus de cette union, je survecus seul; tous mes freres et soeurs moururent en bas age."

Knjashnin. Isani, Andrei Petrovitsh Grinev, oli nuoruudessaan palvellut sotavaessa kreivi Minnichin aikana ja otti eron paa-majorina vuonna 17-. Siita pitain asui han kylassaan Simbirskin kupernissa, jossa nai eraan koyhan aatelisneidon Avdotja Vasiljevna J: n. Meita oli yhdeksan lasta. Kaikki veljeni ja sisareni kuolivat pienina. Mina olin kirjoitettu kersantiksi Semenovskin kaartiin, ja siita tuli meidan kiittaa majoria samassa kaartissa, ruhtinas B: ta, likeista sukulaistamme. Minua luettiin virkavapauden saaneiden joukkoon kotikasvatukseni loppuun asti."

My father, Andrew Peter Grineff, having served in his youth under Count Munich, left the army in 17-, with the grade of First Major. From that time he lived on his estate in the Principality of Simbirsk, where he married Avoditia, daughter of a poor noble in the neighborhood. Of nine children, the issue of this marriage, I was the only survivor. My brothers and sisters died in childhood.

AT the house of Naroumov, a cavalry officer, the long winter night had been passed in gambling. At five in the morning breakfast was served to the weary players. The winners ate with relish; the losers, on the contrary, pushed back their plates and sat brooding gloomily. Under the influence of the good wine, however, the conversation then became general.

My father, Andrej Petrovitch Grineff, after serving in his youth under Count Munich, had retired in 17-with the rank of senior major. Since that time he had always lived on his estate in the district of Simbirsk, where he married Avdotia, the eldest daughter of a poor gentleman in the neighbourhood. Of the nine children born of this union I alone survived; all my brothers and sisters died young."

In this collection of Russian stories, editor and compiler Thomas Seltzer selects from a range of the best examples of 19th and early 20th century Russian literature. As a survey of famous authors at the height of the powers, as well as some writers who have been unjustly neglected, this anthology is indispensable.