Author of the famous "Lefty"

Russian writer Nikolai Leskov remains less known than his more famous contemporaries, although some of his works have become an integral part of Russian culture.

Leskov first contemplated a literary career while working at the company "Shkott and Wilkens," which belonged to his maternal relatives. As an agent for the company, he traveled extensively across Russia, and the vivid impressions and interesting observations from these trips seemed to demand to be put on paper.

Leskov was always interested in the everyday life of the Russian people. Before writing a note about the Old Believers, he carefully studied their way of life. Leo Tolstoy called Leskov "the most Russian of writers."

In creating his works, Leskov emphasized the importance of the speech characteristics of his characters and the individualization of their language.

Shortly before his death, Leskov published a complete collection of his works in 12 volumes with the well-known publisher Suvorin (the 12th volume was released after his death). This collection sold out quickly, bringing the writer not only a significant fee but also literary success. However, this success was accompanied by an unpleasant event: the 6th volume, which contained church works, was withdrawn at the insistence of the censors. This news reached Leskov on the stairs of the printing house and caused his first severe heart attack.

Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov passed away on February 21, 1895, in St. Petersburg from another asthma attack that had plagued him for the last five years of his life. He is buried at the Volkovsky Cemetery in St. Petersburg.

Interestingly, the complete works of this renowned writer were published only nearly 100 years later, in 1996.