The forged coupon, and other stories

by Leo Tolstoy

"The forged coupon, and other stories" by graf Leo Tolstoy is a collection written between 1902-1904 and published in 1910. The title novella follows a schoolboy's desperate act of forging a bond coupon to repay a debt. This single deception triggers a devastating chain reaction, touching dozens of lives and ultimately leading to murder. The story explores how one evil deed ripples outward, yet maintains hope by showing that good works can spread just as powerfully as wrongdoing through society.