This book is fantastic for anyone who wants an insight into the craft of writing, it would suit a student of literature or a curious layman. Saunders shows us what it might be like to be in one of his literature classes, dissecting Russian short stories one by one and providing an easy to understand analysis of the intentions of their authors.

George Saunders brings his usual wit and warmth to this critical, yet accessible, look at the greats of Russian short stories. Asking the reader to learn how to pay attention to not just what a story is saying but how it is saying it. A book sure to be of great interest to writers and students but which a general reader will also find much to enjoy.