About the Authors
William Shakespeare (1564–1616), English poet and dramatist of the Elizabethan and early Jacobean period, is the most widely known author in all of English literature and often considered the greatest. He was an active member of a theater company for at least twenty years, during which time he wrote many great plays. Plays were not prized as literature at the time and Shakespeare was not widely read until the middle of the eighteenth century, when a great upsurge of interest in his works began that continues today.
Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov (1831–1895) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, playwright, and journalist. He was a favourite of Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky among others. Leskov is praised for his innovative techniques and his ability to create a vivid picture of contemporary Russian society.
About Josh Verbae
Josh Verbae is the editor and a theology specialist at The Big Nest. His work includes compiling collections of Christian Classics series and editions of the Holy Bible. His narration work includes The Tale of Benjamin Bunny by Beatrix Potter, The Sphinx without a Secret by Oscar Wilde, and English Fairy Tales, Vol 1 by Andrew Lang.