Five Russian Dog Stories presents touching narratives from three giants in Russian literature Some heartwarming some tear jerking none will easily be forgotten Turgenevs Mumu is rescued from drowning by a mute serf Gerasim and quickly becomes his closest friend and comforter until Gerasims mistress intervenes with tragic consequences Shchedrins Trezor is the perfect embodiment of canine fidelity carrying out his duties to the letter despite being chained up badly treated and sometimes not even fed Chekhovs Kashtanka when lost is taken in by a circus clown and trained for an act in the ring However she prefers to return to her former abusive master sitting in the audience at her first performance rather than remain with her new caring thoughtful owner These stories have long been held in high esteem tugging at the readers heartstrings When Turgenev died in 1883 a wreath was sent to the grave of the author of Moomoo by British Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals