The Curse of the Beast

A young man in search of refreshing coolness visits the zoo and becomes a victim of the mysterious curse of a beast dying in captivity...
A brilliant pilot is obsessed with the desire to merge forever with the heavenly element he loves fervently...
A mischievous sea devil decides to add fun to a dull rural wedding, but in his truly devilish way...
Mysticism has invariably occupied an important place in the works of Leonid Andreyev — both in his prose and in his drama. Some of his works, belonging to this literary direction, were received by critics and readers unconditionally, while others caused a noisy scandal. Some lean towards philosophical parable, others — to classic "horrors", still others — to ironic horrors, yet all are marked by the power, strength, and undeniable originality of the author's talent.