These stories are diverse and span a century of great change in Russian history. Readers will note a consistency of theme throughout the volume, as most of the stories deal somehow with the plight of the lowly citizen battling with the great governmental, industrial, and social systems of Russian society. But stylistically, the stories are vastly different, ranging from the realistic to the expressionistic and surreal. Tonally, the stories convey everything from tragic pathos to satire.