The Tale of the Priest and of His Workman Balda

What it is

Written by Alexander Pushkin on 13 September 1830 while staying at Boldino, this fairy tale in verse is based on a Russian folk story he had collected earlier. It tells of a cheap, lazy priest tricked and ultimately punished by his clever workman, Balda.

Why it matters

Because of its mocking portrayal of a priest, the tale was censored during Pushkin's lifetime and only published after his death, with the priest changed to a merchant to satisfy censors. The story reveals Pushkin's interest in folk humour and his willingness to poke fun at religious authority, something that still provokes controversy today, as shown by later protests over stage productions restoring the priest character.

Look closer

• Why do you think censors objected to a priest being mocked, and what does this tell you about power and religion in Pushkin's Russia?
• How does the story use humour to make a serious point about greed and exploitation?
• What does the later controversy over performances of this tale suggest about how sensitive topics remain controversial long after a work is written?