Very good introduction to classic Russian literature ... in Russian. The stories are adapted for a beginning student with limited vocabulary. New words are translated as footnotes at the page bottom. All words used in the book are in a short dictionary at the back of the book. The book contains the following adapted and edited excerpts: Taman' (A Hero of Our Time) by M.I. Lermontov, Two short stories by A.S. Pushkin, Bela (A Hero of Our Time) by M.I. Lermontov, Three Short Stories by I.S. Turgenev, and The Provincial Lady by I.S. Turgenev. ( )