The Enchanted Wanderer

A chance meeting on a steambacht on Lake Ladoga brings together a group of travelers, one of whom—a sturdy, middle-aged monk named Ivan Severyanovich—begins to tell the astonishing story of his life. From his reckless youth as a serf who accidentally causes a monk’s death, to his years as a horse trainer, a captive among the Tatars, a soldier under a false name, and finally a monk, Ivan’s journey is a wild, sprawling epic of sin, suffering, and unexpected grace. This modern retelling preserves the raw energy and dark humor of Leskov’s original while making the language fresh and immediate. Follow the enchanted wanderer through the vast landscapes of nineteenth-century Russia, where every encounter tests his soul and every twist of fate draws him closer to a destiny he cannot escape. Part of Timeless Classics.