Slender collection of a few of Pushkin's better known stories, at least two of which (The Queen of Spades and The Shot) are often anthologized. The translations are good (circa 1912), although I wonder how a modern translation might differ. The important thing is the stories, and these are always interesting, although the twist in The Queen of Spades loses impact on repeated readings. Some stories (An Amateur Peasant Girl) are just pure delight. Others (The Coffin Maker, The Postmaster, The Snowstorm, The Shot) are not quite so well tied-up and perhaps more Russian(?) It's hard to say--but Pushkin is quite a writer and these are well worth reading for any short story fan. You'll remember some of these characters for a while. ( )