3 Review(s)

The Steel Flea by Nikolai S. Leskov is a classic example of 19th-century Russian literature and a humorous, satirical short story that celebrates Russian craftsmanship, ingenuity, and national pride. The story is part of Leskov's "skaz" style, where the narrator tells the story in a colloquial and engaging manner.The plot begins with Tsar Alexander I of Russia traveling through Europe, where he encounters English craftsmen who present him with a marvel of engineering: a microscopic, intricately made steel flea that can dance. Impressed by the flea, the Tsar returns to Russia, boasting of foreign superiority in craftsmanship.