Ivan Andreyevich Krylov entered the history of literature primarily as the greatest fabulist. His short, educational, and ironic fables have been known since childhood and are reread with pleasure. Vivid quotes from them have long become winged expressions, and Krylov's characters have been loved by many generations of readers. "Of course, no Frenchman would dare to place anyone above La Fontaine, but we, it seems, can prefer Krylov to him. Both will eternally remain favorites of their compatriots," said Pushkin. However, Krylov's works represent a variety of poetic genres: these include adaptations of psalms, philosophical reflections, friendly letters, epigrams, occasional poetry, and love lyrics. These works occupy a significant place in this edition and allow readers to become acquainted with different facets of Krylov's talent - a poet who not only introduced folk speech into literary usage but also largely anticipated later discoveries of Russian lyrics.
