Essay Questions

How are the stories connected?

Overall, the stories in this collection are connected by their mutual association with Russian history. Some of the stories are connected by ancestors and relatives; for example, the ballerina painted in "The Leopard," is the grandmother of Galina, who features in the story "Granddaughters."

Who is Kolya?

Kolya is introduced as a prisoner of war and is an old boyfriend of Galina's. Despite being married to an oligarch, Galina thinks about Kolya and even buys a painting that had been painted where he died. Later, we learn that Kolya had been involved with drug-dealing, and even killed someone who knew about it.