The name of Nikolai Bilevich is not as widely known today, although in his time he was one of the most popular writers in the Russian Empire. His works were highly valued by Dostoevsky, Belinsky, Senkovsky, and Gogol. Bilevich was born on November 21, 1812, in Kursk to a family of teachers. He later entered Moscow University and quickly became part of high society. Nikolai Ivanovich had the opportunity to meet Pushkin, Yazykov, Zhukovsky, and Zagorsky, which inspired him to seriously pursue literature.

Bilevich paid attention to Russian folklore with its unique mythological characters, leading to the creation of "Popular Tales," which caused a real sensation in high society. However, an even greater success came with the reissue of "Christmas Tales," where Nikolai Ivanovich introduced readers to devils, leshies, witches, and resurrected corpses. These characters not only frightened but also possessed human traits and qualities, often prompting the main characters to commit sins that were then ridiculed. For example, witches incited seduction and infidelity, while devils encouraged deceit and lies. They were so skillfully woven into everyday life that it seemed as if all these characters truly existed alongside us. Osip Senkovsky, admiring the tales, noted in them "something Russian, coarse, heavy, peasant-like."

In addition to his publishing activities, Bilevich continued to teach, and his lessons on the Russian language and literature were not to be missed. Among his students was Fyodor Dostoevsky, who, thanks to Bilevich, developed a great interest in literature, just as Nikolai Ivanovich himself, inspired by meetings with Pushkin, Zagorsky, and Zhukovsky, began to write. In the last years of his life, the writer left his position due to deteriorating eyesight and spent his remaining days in the estate of Patepka in the Kursk province, where he passed away at the age of 48.