At the centre of this chronicle of Russian provincial life in the reign of Catherine the Great stands the patriarchal figure of the author's grandfather, Stepan Mikhailovich. A man of great natural dignity, imbued with respect for tradition and love of the land, he is also despotic and virtually illiterate. Into the family comes his son's new wife, a spirited, intelligent girl from the town. Her eyes see a different world, tainted by grossness, cruelty, and squalor: she suffers from the hostility of jealous sisters-in-law and the shortcomings of a husband whom she loves but cannot respect. Her relationship with Stepan Mikhailovich is the heart of Aksakov's story, in which with great narrative skill and psychological insight he celebrates the old feudal way of life without concealing its darker, repressive side. This book is intended for general readers; students of Russian literature from A-level upwards.