Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin: 5 essential books Natalya Kochetkova Jan 27 2026 Culture

https://www.gw2ru.com/arts/244202-mikhail-saltykov-shchedrin-5-essential-books For a long time, the name of this Russian classic writer didn't exist. It only appeared after its owner's death. There were two people. One was the successful statesman Mikhail Evgrafovich Saltykov, vice governor of the Ryazan and Tver provinces and chairman of the treasury chamber (Penza, Tula). The second was Nikolai Shchedrin, the fake name behind which Saltykov hid as a satirical writer. This duality became a key feature of his biography: as a high-ranking official, Saltykov studied the state system from the inside, while Shchedrin criticized it as a writer and journalist. Many of his works remain relevant today; we highlight five of his main ones below.