N. S. (Nikolai Semenovich) Leskov
The Steel Flea
"The Steel Flea" by N. S. Leskov is a skaz written in 1881. Styled as a folk tale, it follows a left-handed craftsman from Tula who astonishes both Russian and English courts by shoeing a tiny mechanical flea created by English inventors. Through humor and distinctive language, Leskov explores Russian ingenuity and patriotism while critiquing a society that neglects its most talented people, ultimately delivering a tragic commentary on wasted genius.