"Based on a true story of an early Russian missionary bishop's trip to the far reaches of Eastern Siberia, Nicolai Leskov (1831-1895), the master of hte Russian short story, delights the reader with a tale of adventure and substance. Leskob, the Russian equivalent of the American mark Twain, is a powerful storyteller, utilizing language and acute characterizations to weave an unforgettable tale"(from cover).