It is a baffled reflection, from the position of political enlightenment, on the extraordinary hold exercised by violence and fanaticism upon the human race.' -A. Binyon, The Daily Telegraph 'Time has done nothing to dull the excitement of the story, which, for all its romantic coincidences, is something more than a mere tale of adventure because its characters are something more than cardboard.' - The New York Times 'One brilliant feature of The Captain's Daughter is that you don't know what sort of narrative is unfolding. 'In any language, The Captain's Daughter would be a miniature masterpiece.' -T.

At once a fairy tale and a thrilling historical novel, this singularly Russian work of the imagination is also a timeless, universal, and very winning story of how love and duty can summon pluck and luck to confront calamity. Resistance, he has made it clear, will be met with death. Then Pugachev, leader of the Cossack rebellion, surrounds the fort. Soon after he arrives at Fort Belogorsk, Grinyov falls in love with Masha, the beautiful young daughter of his captain. With impulsive gratitude Grinyov hands over his fur coat to his savior, never mind the cold. Traveling to take up this new post, Grinyov loses his shirt gambling and then loses his way in a terrible snowstorm, only to be guided to safety by a mysterious peasant. Petersburg to serve in faraway southern Russia. Presented as the memoir of Pyotr Grinyov, a nobleman, The Captain's Daughter tells how, as a feckless youth and fledgling officer, Grinyov was sent from St. An NYRB Classics Original Alexander Pushkin's short novel is set during the reign of Catherine the Great, when the Cossacks rose up in rebellion against the Russian empress.

Pushkin and the queen of spades