Although Lev Tolstoy's three prose works based on his experiences during the siege of Sebastopol in 1854 and 1855, are referred to as “stories” (
rasskazy), following the title of the 1856 edition, the term is debatable. All three stories –
Sevastopol' v dekabre mesiatse[
Sebastopol in December],
Sevastopol' v mae[
Sebastopol in May] and
Sevastopol' v avguste 1855 goda[
Sebastopol in August 1855] – are largely plotless and lacking in conventional heroes. Indeed
Decemberwas referred to as an “article” (
stat'ia) by both Nekrasov and Turgenev, and critics (or translators) often use the word “sketch” (
ocherk) to describe them. The work was not planned as a trilogy and, apart from a reference in
Augustto the events described in
May, the components are thematically independent.
1653 words
Citation: Pursglove, Michael. "Sevastopol'skie rasskazy". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 June 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=15843, accessed 20 April 2024.]
