John Burlinson
What would happen if Satan came to earth in human form in order to lure helpless innocents to do his bidding—and found himself outdone at every turn by the inherent greed and depravity of humankind? That's the deliciously dark premise at the heart of Russian writer Leonid Andreyev's brilliant satire Satan's Diary. It's an engaging and surprisingly thought-provoking read that's well worth your time.
The comical Wheels of Chance was written in 1896 at the height of the golden age of the bicycle, when practical and affordable bicycles led to profound social shifts in England. Suddenly people of modest means could travel greater distances for work or even for pleasure, without the limitations of rail schedules, weakening England's rigid class structure and strengthening the movement towards the liberation of women. In the novel, the poorly-paid
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