Alexander Eliasberg Book order

Nikolai Gogol's literary journey began with the influence of Alexander Pushkin, who encouraged him to write notable works like The Inspector General and Dead Souls. Gogol's unique storytelling blends Ukrainian folklore with elements of comedy and the supernatural, evident in his popular tales from the Dikanka village. His later Petersburg tales explore urban life, highlighting themes of corruption and the demonic in everyday existence. Major works include "The Nose," "The Overcoat," and "Dead Souls," showcasing the complexities of Russian society.

Exploring themes of darkness and the human psyche, Fjodor Sologub's work delves into a world dominated by demonic forces, where individuals often embody their own worst fears. His poetry and prose intertwine love and death with a haunting surrealism, reflecting a symbolist approach. The narrative features characters like Wolodja, who experiences both fear and tenderness in moments of solitude. Sologub's writings, including stories such as "The Kiss of the Unborn" and "The Mourning Bride," showcase his unique blend of fantastical visions and political engagement.

Of all the characters in modern Jewish fiction, the most beloved is Tevye, the compassionate, irrepressible, Bible-quoting dairyman from Anatevka, who has been immortalized in the writings of Sholem Aleichem and in acclaimed and award-winning theatrical and film adaptations. And no Yiddish writer was more beloved than Tevye’s creator, Sholem Rabinovich (1859–1916), the “Jewish Mark Twain,” who wrote under the pen name of Sholem Aleichem. Beautifully translated by Hillel Halkin, here is Sholem Aleichem’s heartwarming and poignant account of Tevye and his daughters, together with the “Railroad Stories,” twenty-one tales that examine human nature and modernity as they are perceived by men and women riding the trains from shtetl to shtetl.