Praised by Chekhov as his favourite writer, Nikolai Leskov occupies a unique place in
Russian literature. His original stories often seem like folk-tales, their larger-than-life
characters including soldiers, Tsars, priests and gypsies. Leskov's storytelling, simple
in its style, combines a deep religious spirit with comic absurdity.
The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, Leskov's best-known work, is a realist
account of a young woman who escapes from her loveless marriage through
adultery, leading to violence and murder. This audiobook collection of six stories also
includes The Sealed Angel, The Steel Flea, The Toupée Artist, The Sentry and On the
Edge of the World.