Summary:
"Short-story masterpieces, Vol. 3: Russian" by J. Berg Esenwein and John Cournos is a collection of Russian short stories translated into English, likely compiled in the early 20th century. This volume includes noteworthy works from celebrated authors such as Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, and Tolstoy, who made significant contributions to Russian literature. The collection focuses on capturing the essence of the Russian spirit and its unique storytelling style, which is deeply rooted in national themes and character-driven narratives. The opening of this anthology provides a scholarly introduction to the significance of the Russian short story as a distinct literary form. It explains how Russian literature evolved from the imitation of foreign works to a distinct and self-aware national identity, particularly during the 19th century. The text discusses the major influences on this development, including sociopolitical upheavals and the introduction of new ideas that inspired writers like Pushkin and Gogol. It sets the stage for the stories to come by highlighting the unique characteristics of Russian literature, emphasizing themes of love, suffering, and national consciousness while previewing the stories that delve into the depths of the human experience against a backdrop of Russian culture and history. (This is an automatically generated summary.)