The Cossack Prisoner and Other Stories

This anthology includes three signature works by Leo Tolstoy, in which he explores the nature of the human soul. Officer Zhilyin, a prisoner among the mountaineers, refuses to reconcile with his fate. His hope lies only in his own strength and the ability to see the good even in those considered enemies. The piebald stallion Kholstomer lives a long life to understand that a mottled coat is not a sentence, and the title of “human” often proves to be an empty sound. In love, Ivan Vasilyevich becomes a witness to a monstrous scene after the ball—and in one morning, his life is divided into “before” and “after,” because he cannot turn a blind eye to cruelty even for the sake of love. Illustrations by Stanislav Babyuk create a special atmosphere, allowing for a new perspective on familiar texts.