Despite the full title, these are not really full stories for the most part. Indeed, there are 24 stories in 180 pages. They are, as the sub-title says, stories of Russian life; or, more specifically, they are sketches or vignettes, many only 3-5 pages, depicting a wide range of Russian characters. As such, although mostly comically engaging and sometimes tragic, few really stand out, the ones doing so most for me being At Home, about a father's relationship with his seven year old son, and the tragic conclusion to In the Ravine. ( )

this is a very bad translation of the work of this great writer. ( )