This novella attacks the stupidity and absolutism of Nicholas I, and parallels his rule to the despotism of Shamil, who orders the title character to be hunted down and killed.
Harold Bloom praised this work as "the best story in the world" in The Western Canon. In its fifth section, Peter Avdeev is senselessly shot because of a reckless advance by Poltoratsky. Its main character tells his life story to Loris-Melikov while staying in Tiflis with Prince Vorontsov, and is desperate to rescue his family from Vedeno. At the beginning of this novella, its narrator marvels at the tenacity of a broken thistle, which inspires him to think of its main character. This novella attacks the stupidity and absolutism of Nicholas I, and parallels his rule to the despotism of Shamil, who orders the title character to be hunted down and killed. It ends with a group of Russian soldiers surrounding and beheading its title character, a celebrated naib in the Caucasus. For 10 points, name this novella by Leo Tolstoy about the death of the title Muslim Chechen soldier.
Harold Bloom praised this work as "the best story in the world" in The Western Canon.
Hadji Murad [or Hadji Murat]