Eine Teufelsaustreibung, und andere Geschichten

A young nobleman from a modest provincial family arrives in Moscow, torn between his aristocratic pedigree and the humble roots of his mother’s mercantile lineage. At his mother’s urging, he seeks out his influential uncle Ilja Fedossejewitsch, a man who moves at the centre of courtly ceremonies and religious power, hoping to receive a lesson that will shape his future. The nephew’s first encounter with the uncle is marked by a surreal carriage ride through the city’s outskirts, a blend of solemn ritual and idle boredom that hints at the mysterious currents beneath Moscow’s glittering façade.

As the carriage rattles toward an enigmatic destination, the uncle’s cryptic remark—“It is no life!”—leaves the visitor questioning the purpose of his journey. The narrative captures the clash of youthful idealism with the weight of tradition, set against a richly described Russian capital where every gesture bears the imprint of status and superstition. Listeners will be drawn into a world of aristocratic intrigue, subtle humor, and the lingering presence of the uncanny.