Russian Silhouettes: More Stories of Russian Life

This collection gathers a dozen short tales that illuminate everyday Russian life at the turn of the twentieth century. From mischievous schoolboys to quiet moments in a bustling kitchen, each story sketches a different slice of society—childhood games, youthful ambitions, and the quiet dramas of ordinary adults. The narrator’s eye is both affectionate and observant, allowing humor and pathos to sit side by side. Listeners will feel the rhythm of Russian seasons, the clatter of a samovar, and the unspoken codes that shape family and community.

In the opening tale a winter afternoon finds Volodia bursting through the door, cheeks flushed from the cold, to a chorus of delighted relatives and a barking dog. His quiet schoolmate, Tchetchevitsin, arrives as a stark contrast—sullen, freckled, and seemingly out of place—sparking the sisters’ curiosity about his hidden depths. As the boys share tea, the scene captures the clash of heat and frost, tradition and new ideas, offering an intimate glimpse of Russian family life on the cusp of the holidays.