Russian Books You Need To Read Right Away

Here is a list of 10 best Russian books to get your hands on right away.

Anna Karenina

Anna Karenina

Tolstoy’s most famous work follows a woman who falls in love outside of marriage. On the other hand, a young Levin, who prefers the idyllic rural life.

First Love

First Love

The plot of this tender novella follows a dinner party where everyone recounts vibrant stories of their first love.

Eugene Onegin

Eugene Onegin

This novel in verse is a portrait of Russian romance. At its heart is Ogenin, a St Petersburg dandy with a typical elite life.

The Bet and Other Stories

The Bet and Other Stories

Chekov’s short stories are full of insight of the Russian country life. This one in particular deals with an important debate.

Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

At the heart of this classic is Raskolnikov, an unhappy student who randomly commits murders on the streets of Petersburg.

The Master and Margarita

The Master and Margarita

This bewildering Menippean satire follows Satan and his crew, including a naked witch and a cat with a penchant for chess and vodka, descent on earth.

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

The heroine of this short story is a beautiful woman given in a marriage of convenience to a man twice her age.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich

It tackles the plight of a labor camp inmate, Ivan, and his struggle to maintain his dignity in the face of communist oppression.

Lolita

Lolita

This experimental and highly controversial book is about a pedophilic middle aged man who falls in love with a twelve year old.

Dead Souls

Dead Souls

This satirical work serves to criticize each and every element of the Russian society in the 19th century through its antihero.