Lefty

One of the most poignant works of N.S. Leskov, where he combines folklore form with sharp satire. Behind the external simplicity lies a deep drama of a national genius who remains unappreciated. A new book in the "Eternal Stories. Young... Adult" series. The collection also includes "The Captured Angel", "The Stupid Artist" and "The Man on the Clock".

The story of how a brilliant self-taught Tula gunsmith shod a foreign flea - a miracle of engineering thought - but his work was not appreciated. Indifference from the authorities leads to a tragic ending. "Why do we destroy what we could be proud of?" - the author invites readers to find the answer to this question themselves.

A bitter reflection on the fate of talent in Russia. The contrast between recognition abroad and oblivion at home emphasizes the main idea.
Leskov masterfully conveys the folk speech: lively, rich with proverbs and sayings - as if retelling a story heard. Through the image of Lefty, the qualities of the Russian character are shown: hard work, patience, inventiveness, modesty. The work touches on important themes such as the value of talent, love for one's people and patriotism, social injustice, indifference of the authorities, and the clash of two worlds - the "bureaucratic" and ordinary people. The plot remains relevant to this day.