The tales selected here are taken from various volumes, and two of them, "The Elephant" and "The White Poodle," from a volume specially designed by Kuprin for reading aloud to children. The others are: A Slav Soul; The Song and The Dance; Easter Day; The Idiot; The Picture; Hamlet; Mechanical Justice; The Last Word; Dogs' Happiness; A Clump of Lilacs; Anathema; Tempting Providence; Cain. Aleksandr Ivanovich Kuprin (1870-1938) was Russian novelist and short-story writer. He was an army offi...

Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870.At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years.Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this ti...

Having traveled much and tried his hand at many jobs, Alexander Kuprin ran into all sorts of people over the course of his tumultuous life. "Human Types" is a selection of sketches from the vast gallery of portraits he had created as part of his writing.

Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870.At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years.Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this ti...

Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870.At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years.Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this ti...

Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870.At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years.Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this ti...

Russian literature is not normally associated with short form. So, here is a delicious little miniature from the master of storytelling Alexander Kuprin, a tiny slice of life, skillfully presented and highly engaging.

The Russian novel has a reputation that is immense, both in narrative and in length. Unquestionably though the ideas, themes and characters make many novels rightly revered as world class, as icons of literature.Perhaps an easier way to enjoy a wider selection of the Russian heritage, with its varied and glorious literary talents, is with the short story. These gems sparkle and beguile the mind with their characters and narrative, exploring facets of society and the human condition...