The Essentials of Russian Literature

5 you've probably never read

In much of the Western world, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky dominate discussions of Russian literature. For many readers, however, they are both where the conversation starts, and where it ends.

But Russian literature, of course, is far more rich and diverse than two towering names. Across the centuries, Russian authors have explored questions of faith, politics, morality, love, good, evil, the human spirit, and more. Whether these are addressed in piercing psychological portraits or mystical parables, the result is the same: a corpus of literature that feels eternal, and continues to resonate with our modern world.

That’s why today, we look at some of the best works of Russian literature outside of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. If you want to explore more of Russia’s greatest tales, you’d be hard pressed to find better than these — even though the last one was written just 13 years ago, it’s already being hailed as a classic…

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1. Eugene Onegin

Alexander Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin (1833) is often regarded as the first truly great Russian novel, though it is written entirely in verse. This “novel in poems” follows the story of Eugene Onegin, a young aristocrat whose cynicism and boredom lead him to reject love, kill his closest friend in a duel, and live with the crushing regret of wasted youth.

Pushkin’s verse blends elegance and wit, and the narrator frequently breaks the fourth wall to comment on society and his own storytelling ability. Vivid portraits of Russian life — from glittering St. Petersburg salons to rural, snow covered roads — transport you to a different world. This, combined with Pushkin’s refined yet accessible language, became a foundational element of the Russian literature that followed.

Still today, Eugene Onegin remains a dazzling introduction to 19th century Russian culture. Humor, romance, and biting irony combine in Pushkin’s writing to make for an unforgettable drama — just as they did in the author’s own life, as Pushkin was killed in a duel at 37 years old.

2. Anton Chekhov’s Short Stories

Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) is one of the greatest short story writers in history. Because he trained as a doctor, his medical background gave him a sharp eye for human behavior, and enabled him to document Russian life with unmatched precision.

Over his career, Chekhov wrote hundreds of stories, ranging from darkly comic sketches of provincial life to profound explorations of loneliness, morality, and hope. His stories rarely rely on elaborate plots, and instead illuminate small moments — a chance encounter or unexpected act of kindness — to reveal the complexity of ordinary existence.

Chekhov’s writing style is also famously understated. He avoided moralizing and neat resolutions, instead preferring to let his readers draw their own conclusions. If you want to experience Russian literature distilled into its purest form, Chekhov’s stories are essential reading.

3. Doctor Zhivago

Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago (1957) is both a sweeping historical epic and a deeply personal love story, set during one of the most turbulent periods in Russian history. The novel follows the poet and physician Yuri Zhivago as he navigates the chaos of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Civil War — while simultaneously being torn between his devoted wife, Tonya, and his great love, Lara.

Pasternak’s lyrical prose reflects his own gifts as a poet, and his characters play out their struggles against an ever-vivid backdrop, from snowbound forests to city streets in uproar. The novel itself explores themes of moral integrity, as well as the resilience of the human spirit under political oppression.

Because of its subtle critiques of Soviet ideology, Doctor Zhivago was banned in the USSR, smuggled out of the country, and first published in Italy. Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958, though he was forced to decline it under Soviet pressure. Today, however, Doctor Zhivago stands as a testament to artistic courage, and it remains one of the most beloved Russian novels of the 20th century.

4. The Master and Margarita

Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita (published posthumously in 1967) is a surreal and unforgettable masterpiece that weaves together everything from political satire to theology.

The story moves between two worlds: a darkly comic Moscow where the Devil arrives with a retinue of supernatural creatures — including a giant talking cat — and first-century Jerusalem, where Pontius Pilate grapples with his role in Christ’s Passion. At the heart of this dual narrative is the love story between “the Master,” a persecuted writer, and Margarita, whose devotion leads her into a bargain with Satan to save him.

With biting humor and fantastical imagery, Bulgakov skewers Soviet bureaucracy and censorship while exploring the nature of evil, redemption, and truth. The result is a kaleidoscopic novel where political absurdities meet spiritual mysteries, leaving you equally entertained as you are inspired.

5. Laurus

Eugene Vodolazkin’s Laurus (2012) is a modern masterpiece that feels as though it could have been written centuries ago. Set in 15th-century Russia, it follows the life of a healer and holy fool named Arseny. After the death of his beloved, Arseny dedicates himself to a life of repentance — and then goes on a time-traveling journey through plague-ridden villages and the Holy Land as he seeks redemption and spiritual transformation.

Vodolazkin’s style blends historical realism with a sense of the mystical, reflecting both the medieval worldview and timeless spiritual truths. He uses multiple narrative voices and shifts in language to evoke a sense of sacred history, making Laurus feel like a work of hagiography — a saint’s life — while also being deeply human.

The novel’s power lies mainly in its ability to transport you into the spiritual imagination of medieval Russia. It’s a rare modern work that feels like an instant classic, and has earned Vodolazkin comparisons to Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. If you are at all drawn to Russian spirituality and the sweep of history, Laurus is an unforgettable experience.

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In the last year, we’ve written about everything from the nature of evil in Paradise Lost, to why Tolkien hated Disney, to Dante’s tips for reading the Bible…