A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life

by George Saunders

Once Gorky asked Tolstoy whether he agreed with an opinion Tolstoy had assigned to one of his characters. “Are you very anxious to know?” Tolstoy asked. “Very,” said Gorky. “Then I shan’t tell you,” said Tolstoy.