The Forged Coupon: New Translation (Alma Classics)

A petty schoolboy prank involving a fake banknote triggers an escalating chain reaction of crime and moral ruin across Russia.

Written by Leo Tolstoy in his later years, this powerful moral novella begins when a troubled youth and his friend forge a banknote to pay a local debt. When a struggling shopkeeper unknowingly accepts the forged coupon and passes it on, the fake bill spreads through society like a plague. Innocent people are wrongfully accused, greed is awakened, and lives are destroyed in a cascading spiral of violence and corruption, until a sudden spark of Christian forgiveness alters the course of destruction. Tolstoy's moral tales have inspired thought-provoking arthouse films.

➤ Highlights

• A Petty Crime: A schoolboy's fake banknote starts an unpredictable wave of disaster.
• Ripple Effect: The counterfeit bill spreads rapidly through the Russian populace.
• Moral Decay: Ordinary people succumb to dishonesty, greed, and ruthless cruelty.
• Spiritual Redemption: Amidst profound darkness, an unexpected act of forgiveness changes everything.
• Arthouse Cinema: Tolstoy's philosophical parables frequently inspire meaningful cinematic adaptations.