N. S. (Nikolai Semenovich) Leskov

Born in 1831, Nikolai Leskov was a Russian novelist, short-story writer, playwright, and journalist. He worked in clerical and commercial jobs before turning seriously to literature, and that wide experience gave him an unusually close view of provincial Russia, officialdom, and ordinary people from many walks of life.

Leskov is often remembered for his gift as a storyteller. Critics have described him as one of the great voices of Russian prose, and his writing is especially admired for its lively speech patterns, colorful narration, and attention to folk culture and religious life. Among his most famous works are Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and The Enchanted Wanderer.

During his lifetime, his work did not always fit neatly into the literary camps of the day, but his reputation grew strongly afterward. He died in 1895, and he is now valued for the originality of his style and for the rich, memorable way he captured Russian life.