A Very Russian Christmas: The Greatest Russian Holiday Stories of All Time (Vol 1 of a 5 Book Very Christmas Series)

(Vol 1 of 5 Book Very Christmas Series) Nobody does Christmas like the Russians.Running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, and with many of the stories appearing in English for the first time, this is a collection that will satisfy every reader. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy, Tolstoy inspires with his fable-like tales, Chekhov's unmatchable skills are on full display in a story about a female factory owner and the wretched workers, Klavdia Lukashevitch delights with a sweet and surprising tale of a childhood in White Russia, and Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of Christmas trees and Christmas thieves. There is no shortage of vodka or wit in this volume that proves, with its wonderful variety and remarkable human touch, that Nobody Does Christmas Like the Russians.My Last ChristmasOn this festive day, because of somebody's sin, it is we who must sit here like the wretched of the earth . . ."The passengers looked at the fussy figure of the little old man with displeasure and irritation."Yes," the old man continued, "because of somebody's sins . . . We are used to watching our little children jump in indescribable delight around the Christmas tree . . . Out of human weakness, dear Sirs and Madams, we enjoy gobbling up ham with green peas and sausages one after another, and a slice of goose, and a tipple tipple of the you know what . . .""Tfu!" said the fishmonger, looking at the wee old man with disgust.The passengers slid forward on their chairs . . Running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, and with many of the stories appearing in English for the first time, this is a collection that will satisfy every reader. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy, Tolstoy inspires with his fable-like tales, Chekhov's unmatchable skills are on full display in a story about a female factory owner and the wretched workers, Klavdia Lukashevitch delights with a sweet and surprising tale of a childhood in White Russia, and Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of Christmas trees and Christmas thieves. There is no shortage of vodka or wit on display here, in a collection that proves, with its wonderful variety and remarkable human touch, that Nobody Does Christmas Like the Russians. New Year's tree / Mikhail Zoshchenko -- Boys / Anton Chekhov -- Christmas tree and a wedding / Fyodor Dostoevsky -- At Christmastide / Anton Chekhov -- Dream of the young tsar / Lev Tolstoy -- Makar's dream / Vladimir Korolenko -- Woman's kingdom / Anton Chekhov -- Distant Christmas eve / Klaudia Lukashevich -- Little boy at Christ's Christmas tree / Fyodor Dostoevsky -- Christmas phantoms / Maxim Gorky -- Lifeless animal / Teffi -- My last Christmas / Mikhail Zoshchenko. A collection of short Christmas stories by some of Russia's greatest nineteenth and twentieth century authors—several appearing in English for the first time. Running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, this collection offers a holiday feast of Russian fiction. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy; Tolstoy inspires with his fable-like tales; Chekhov's unmatchable skills are on full display in his story of a female factory owner and her wretched workers; Klaudia Lukashevitch delights with a sweet and surprising tale of a childhood in White Russia; and Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of Christmas trees and Christmas thieves in the Soviet Era—a time when it was illegal to celebrate the holiday in Russia. There is no shortage of imagination, wit, or vodka on display in this collection that proves, with its wonderful variety and remarkable human touch, that nobody does Christmas like the Russians. "Crimson ribbons and troubled souls, landowners yearning for love, peasants bent from labor, priests who raise a glass, and the salty joys of salmon and caviar. This is Russian Christmas celebrated in supreme pleasure and pain by the greatest of writers, running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, with many of the stories appearing in English for the first time. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy, Chekhov's insights into out melancholy woes are on full display, and Teffi puts a stethoscope to the heavy heart of a lonely child and her stuffed animal. Finally, Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of new year's trees and Christmas thieves. There is no shortage of vodka or wit on display in this volume packed with sentimental songs, footmen, whirling winds, solitary nights, snow drifts, and hopeful children"--back cover Nobody Does Christmas Like The Russians. The New Year's Tree / Mikhail Zoshchenko -- The Boys / Anton Chekhov -- A Christmas Tree And A Wedding / Fyodor Dostoevsky -- At Christmastide / Anton Chekhov -- Dream Of The Young Tsar / Lev Tolstoy -- Makar's Dream / Vladimir Korolenko -- A Woman's Kingdom / Anton Chekhov -- A Distant Christmas Eve / Klaudia Lukashevich -- The Little Boy At Christ's Christmas Tree / Fyodor Dostoevsky -- Christmas Phantoms / Maxim Gorky -- A Lifeless Animal / Teffi -- My Last Christmas / Mikhail Zoshchenko.