Leskov N.: The Steel Flea

`He gave orders that they were not to get any hot glum pudding in flames, for fear the spirits in their innards might catch fire` The Steel Flea is an uproarious and alcohol-soaked shaggy-dog story from one of Russia`s great comic masters. Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin`s 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.