A collection of short Christmas stories by some of Russia's greatest nineteenth and twentieth century authors-several appearing in English for the first time. Running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, this collection offers a holiday feast of Russian fiction. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy; Tolstoy inspires with his fable-like tales; Chekhov's unmatchable skills are on full display in his story of a female factory owner and her wretched workers; Klaudia Lukashevitch delights with a sweet and surprising tale of a childhood in White Russia; and Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of Christmas trees and Christmas thieves in the Soviet Era-a time when it was illegal to celebrate the holiday in Russia. There is no shortage of imagination, wit, or vodka on display in this collection that proves, with its wonderful variety and remarkable human touch, that nobody does Christmas like the Russians.

Incomplete Table of Contents:Lev Tolstoy: Dream of the Young TsarLev Tolstoy: Where There is Love, There is God TooFyodor Dostoevsky: A Christmas Tree and a WeddingFyodor Dostoevsky: A Beggar Boy at Christ's Christmas TreeAnton Chekhov: A Woman's KingdomAnton Chekhov:: The BoysAnton Chekhov: At ChristmastimeKlavdia Lukashevich: A Distant Christmas EveMikhail Zoshchenko: The TreeMikhail Zoshchenko: My Last ChristmasVladimir Korolenko: Makar's DreamNikolai Leskov: Offended Before ChristmasDaniil Kharms: Volodya at the TreeMikhail Saltykov Shchedrin: A Christmas Story