Mystical Russia

The literary heritage of Odoevsky is small in volume, and his fate today can hardly be considered happy. For a number of reasons over the past 50 years, the leading positions in the list of reprints have been occupied by the educational story "The town in the snuffbox" and the fairy tale about how Moroz Ivanovich strictly punished the Lavinitsa and generously awarded the needlewoman. Is it worth it to be surprised that most modern readers know well the children"s writer Odoevsky and usually hardly recalls Odoevsky-Beleletrist. However, is the bustle of the 21st century so guilty in this situation? Back in 1844, Belinsky drew attention to the unusual relations of the author with the reading public: "Prince Odoevsky is one of the most respected of modern Russian writers - and meanwhile, nothing can be more vague than he uses. Let"s say more: his name is much more famous than his works. <...> We remember the time when the chosen youth enthusiastically read these plays and spoke of them with the important look with which the neophytes speak about the sacraments of their teachings. And here is one of the reasons why the name of Prince Odoevsky as a writer is more known and familiar to everyone than his writings: his works are such that they can either be liked, or cannot be liked, because they are not suitable for everyone, but meanwhile, opinion those whom they can be very interested in are too important and really even for those who themselves cannot find special interest in them.
Today we give our reader the opportunity to get acquainted with the "mysterious" works of the great master