TSK Group LLC presents a new anthology from a nearly-unknown Russian writer

By: TSK Group LLC
 
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. - Feb. 24, 2016 - PRLog -- Each one of us, surrounded by world’s mysteries, have a tendency toward mysticism.

N. Pirogov


(Hendersonville, NC) The quote above was chosen by the classical Russian writer Nikolai Leskov as an introduction to his story Alexandrite, which opens the latest publication from TSK Group LLC, Everyday Magic. Continuing with her mission to bring less-known works of Russian and Ukrainian literature to English-speaking audiences, TSK’s translator Maria K. presents a unique collection of short stories and novellas by one of the most underrepresented Russian writers. From Egypt to a Russian village to the mountains of Eastern Europe and back - Nikolai Leskov takes his readers on a journey of spirit, mind, and imagination.

About the author

Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (1831 – 1895) was often referred to as “the most Russian of all Russian writers, who knew the Russian people deeper and broader than anyone else, and presented it as it truly was” (D. P. Svyatopolk-Mirsky).

Leskov was born in the family of a criminal investigator and spent his early childhood in the city of Orel. After his father had a falling out with his superiors and left service, the family moved to the village of Panino, where the future writer received his first introduction to the common language and folklore. At the age of ten, Leskov started school, but was such a poor student he completed only two grades in five years. His natural curiosity and restless temperament clashed with the routine, boredom, and emphasis on memorization by rote so prevalent in the old-fashioned Russian schools.

In 1847, Leskov went to work at the same office where his father used to work, receiving several promotions, which enabled him to provide support to his family after his father’s death in 1848. In 1849, Leskov asked to be transferred to Kiev, where he attended lectures at the university, studied Polish, religion, philosophy, and icon painting.

In 1857, Leskov went to work for his aunt’s husband, an Englishman, by the name of Scott. While he disapproved of the company’s practices, he credited the time he spent working there with the tremendous practical experience he accumulated, as well as the knowledge of various branches of industry and agriculture. The company’s business required Leskov to travel extensively all around Russia, which enabled him to study in greater depth the language and everyday life of various regions.

In 1859, Leskov wrote his first serious, non-fiction piece, documenting the wave of rebellions that swept through the Russian wineries, and exposing the disastrous state of Russian agriculture in general, and wine-making in particular. Once his uncle’s business closed in 1860, Leskov returned to Kiev and devoted himself entirely to journalism and literature.

From that point on, and until his death from asthma in 1895, Leskov’s life was saturated with studying every aspect of people’s life in Russia and putting it on page, in the form of articles, brochures, novels, and fables. Sadly, due to the “unfashionable” subject matter, frequent attacks against the government for its failure to address the many problems and hardships of the people, praises of known public rebels, and exposures of bribery and corruption permeating all levels of the government, Leskov’s books were either severely censored and abridged or barred from publication altogether. Leskov himself acknowledged the publication process became an ongoing battle that took a daily toll on his health.

Leskov died in 1895 in St. Petersburg. There was one event that brightened his last years, despite the opposition from the government censors, Leskov’s complete works were compiled and published in 1893.

About the translator

Maria K. is the pen name of Maria Igorevna Kuroshchepova – a writer, translator, and blogger of Russian-Ukrainian decent. Maria came to the United States in 1994 as an impressionable 19-year old exchange student. She received her Bachelors and Master’s degrees in engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY).

Maria covers a wide range of topics from travel and fashion to politics and social issues. Her science fiction and fantasy works include Limited Time for Tomato Soup, The SHIELD, The Elemental Tales and others.

A non-fiction and science fiction writer in her own right, Maria is also a prolific translator of less-known works of Russian and Soviet literature into English. Her most prominent translations include her grandfather Vasily Kuznetsov’s Siege of Leningrad journals titled The Ring of Nine, and Thais of Athens – a historic novel by Ivan Yefremov. Both works quickly made their way into the top 100 Kindle publications in their respective categories and continue attracting consistent interest and acclaim from readers.

Contact
Maria Kuroshchepova
***@tskg.net
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Source:TSK Group LLC
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Tags:Russian, Literature, Leskov
Industry:Literature
Location:Hendersonville - North Carolina - United States
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