The History of One City

"Sharp satire must be grotesque, akin to a malicious caricature or a talented cartoon. Such is "The History of One City" by Mikhail Yevgrafovich Saltykov-Shchedrin (1826-1889) - an epic, "byliny" and fairy tale composition. If only because all artistic literature represents, in a sense, "fairy tales for adults".
"The History of One City" is an acknowledged masterpiece of fantastic realism.