A Russian Gentleman  by S. T. Aksakov  A Russian Gentleman_
seems a suitable title for this book, because the whole scene,
in which a multitude of characters appear, is entirely dominated
and permeated by the tremendous personality of Aksakoff's
grandfather, Stepan Mihailovitch. Plain and rough in his
appearance and habits, but proud of his long descent; hardly
able to read or write, but full of natural intelligence; capable
of furious anger and extreme violence in his anger, but equally
capable of steadfast and even chivalrous affection; a born
leader of men and the very incarnation of truth, honour, and
honesty--Stepan Mihailovitch is more like a Homeric hero than a
man of modern times.   required, not public  Allowed HTML tags:
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