Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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Nikolai Leskov was born on February 16, 1831, in the village of Gorokhovo in the Oryol district. His mother belonged to a noble family, and his father, a member of the clergy, broke with her and joined the Oryol Criminal Chamber, where he received hereditary nobility. According to contemporaries, he gained a reputation as a perceptive investigator, capable of solving complex cases.
Early years and finding one's calling
The writer spent his childhood in Oryol. His grandmother had a profound influence on him, instilling moral values and compassion. After his father retired, the family moved to the village of Panino. There, the future writer first encountered the local people—an experience that later formed the basis for his novella "Yudol," about a terrible famine and crimes committed for the sake of survival.
Leskov's studies at the gymnasium, which he entered at age 10, were unsuccessful: due to neglect and a dislike of cramming, after five years he had only completed two grades. In 1847, he began serving in the Oryol Chamber of the Criminal Court, then transferred to Kyiv. In Kyiv, he became an auditor at the university, developed a passion for icon painting, participated in a student society, and interacted with pilgrims and Old Believers.
After leaving the military in 1857, Nikolai began working for his relatives' company, Schott & Wilkens. His business trips often took him around the country, introducing him to new places, languages, cultures, and traditions.
"I know the Russian people to their very core, and I don't take any credit for it. I didn't learn about the people from conversations with St. Petersburg cabbies, but I grew up among the people…" the writer would later share.
During this period of his life, Leskov took up the pen for the first time.
The beginning of a writing career and criticism
Leskov's literary career began with "Essays on the Distilling Industry," published in Otechestvennye Zapiski in 1861. In 1862, he became a regular contributor to the newspaper Severnaya Pchela (Northern Bee). However, his articles accusing the government of inaction during the St. Petersburg fires angered Alexander II, and the editors sent Nicholas on an extended business trip to Europe.
In 1863, Leskov returned to Russia, and soon wrote "The Life of a Woman" and "Nowhere to Go," both published in the journal "Biblioteka." The latter work provoked a sharp critical reaction, and the novel sealed the writer's place in the creative community for many years to come, as he was accused of holding anti-democratic, "reactionary" views.
A significant milestone in his writing was the novel "At Daggers Drawn." In it, the author condemned nihilism and nascent revolutionary movements. According to Maxim Gorky, "…after the evil novel, Leskov's literary work immediately becomes a vibrant painting, or rather, an icon painting—he begins to create for Russia an iconostasis of its saints and righteous."
The Tale of the Cross-Eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea
One of Leskov's most famous works is "Lefty." This tale, a skaz (a folktale), is unique due to its writing style, which beautifully captures the richness and color of Russian folk speech. Opinions on the work have been wildly varied: some praise the interesting plot, the author's style, and the moral, while others believe the characters lack emotion.
Leskov himself wrote: "Several others agreed that in my stories it is truly difficult to distinguish between good and evil, and that at times it's even impossible to discern who is harming the cause and who is helping it. This was attributed to a certain innate treachery in my nature."
Interesting facts about "Lefty"
Lefty is a collective image of talent, patience, and the tragic Russian fate. Leskov himself admitted: "Where 'Lefty' stands, one should read 'Russian people.'" Nikolai got the idea while vacationing in Sestroretsk, from Colonel Bolonin, an employee of the arms factory. There, he first heard the story of the English steel flea, which Russian craftsmen were able not only to copy but also to shoe. Leo Tolstoy did not understand Lefty. He found the language strange, and the "tricky words" unpopular. The first edition of Lefty was unsuccessful. The opening title with the angels and the engraving of the grasshopper at the end had no relation to the content, and therefore seemed out of place. Leskov wrote down the words for the tale, overheard from ordinary people, in a "little book." Some vocabulary was rewritten by the printer, who considered the author illiterate.
Although this work didn't enjoy great recognition during Nikolai Semyonovich's lifetime, it later became an enduring classic. It's not just a tale about a Russian craftsman, but a true chronicle, combining a rich, complex history and characters.
Besides "Lefty," the "pearls" of his work were the story about a merchant's wife, whose criminal passion leads to the tragedy "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" (1864) and the wandering novel "The Enchanted Wanderer" (1873) – the story of a runaway serf who experienced wanderings, captivity, war, but retained faith and readiness for self-sacrifice.
Leskov's works are memorable for their unique style and vibrant, expressive characters. The author created a unified literary and stylistic framework—the tale—and the image of a Russian man who lives by his conscience, modestly yet masterfully performing his work. His closeness to the people, their everyday life, and their customs continues to make his work so relevant today.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: February 16, 2026.
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