"Tales of Belkin" have written in autumn 1830 by Pushkin in Boldin. Creative recovery that the writer usually felt in the fall, this fall was with particular force. In Boldin, in his own words, he "wrote as long ago did not write."
In addition to a number of lyrical works, Pushkin wrote five novels in prose, which published in 1831, entitling them "Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin". The writer wanted to hide his authorship, because it was his first experience in the field of domestic prose.
In "Tales of Belkin 'Pushkin expanded the range of his observations. In "The Undertaker," he described the morals of the urban middle class, in "The Station Master" was first shown in the face of Samson Vyrin a humiliated man, a petty official, whose miserable fate causes pity.
"Tales of Belkin" may be considered, like the whole of Pushkin's poetry in general, like those that awaken in people good feelings and contributed to the social progress.
Narrative skills of the "Tales of Belkin” are rather remarkable - laconic, quick, not lingering on the details. Entertaining plots, secrets that are revealed only at the end, unexpected, but justified deep isolation - everything continuously maintains the interest of readers and makes the story extremely fascinating. Thus, the wealth of social content is combined in Pushkin's stories with grace and harmony of form.
The first two novels - "The Shot" and especially in "The Blizzard" - romantic passions inherent of noble youth are portrayed. The main theme of "The Shot" is a question of a duel, which was in the early 20s of the XІX century widespread fashion among the nobility. Participate in duels considered as some heroism, was the style of romantic behavior. All this is reflected in "The Shot", which is based on observations of Pushkin during his stay in exile in Chisinau at the beginning of the 20s.
Marya Gavrilovna, the heroine of the story "The Blizzard", is at the mercy of "romantic" sentiments borrowed from the French novels on which she is brought up. Romantic imagination pushed her to agree to flee from home and on a secret marriage with a poor army lieutenant, who the rich parents do not her to marry. This is kind of a "county lady with French books in their hands”.
Marya Gavrilovna’s feelings are quite superficial. It is not known how serious her love for Vladimir was, and if this has not been a result of her affection of French novels, there is an ironic allusion in the novel: "Marya Gavrilovna was brought up on French novels, and consequently was in love."
But there is one thing that makes a serious note in an ironic picture of a provincial life: it is the war of 1812-1814, which is a part of the story. There is described the general patriotic enthusiasm that swept all the Russian people with the glory of the army returning from abroad, "the unforgettable time! Time of glory and enthusiasm! How the Russian heart throbbed at the word 'Fatherland! How sweet were the tears of reunion! "
In the story "The Undertaker" we come from the military world and land in Moscow among small artisans and merchants.
This little world is interested only in profits. Undertaker Adrian cannot help waiting for death of merchant Trukhina and worries that other undertakers, taking advantage of his relocation to Basman on Nikitskaya street, would intercept rich funeral. The deceased Adrian treats like customers. He does not care what these people were in life. And even in his sleep, when they are congratulating him on his new home, a character distinguishes them only in terms of profit or loss from the funeral.
The main feature of Pushkin's prose in general, and "Tales of Belkin" in particular - is the brevity and simplicity of presentation, from which a single word cannot be erased, because every word is necessary. Pushkin avoids any unnecessary decoration. Every little thing leads to something related to all other things.
Pushkin never goes into great detail explaining the actions of his characters, but he always guesses with the help of his brilliant artistic flair, how a person should act by virtue of his individual characteristics, social skills and other reasons. And he guesses correctly, so that we with no explanations, just feel the living truth, we see real people, with all their contradictions.
"Tales of Belkin" were a turning point in the history of Russian art prose. They were followed by other prose works of Pushkin: "Dubrovsky", "Queen of Spades", "The Captain's Daughter," in which even truer, more widely and more deeply Russian life is reflected.
As well as in poetry in prose Pushkin was an innovator. From him comes all the further development of Russian prose, reached in the XІX century an unprecedented ideological and artistic flowering.
