In “The Quiet Backwater of Existence,” a provincial town appears, through which the nineties passed dashingly, without, however, affecting the character and habits of the townspeople, accustomed to shocks and stagnation, inspiration and routine, forever living in prejudices and mysticism, hatred and love . The book includes the story "Museum" - a phantasmagoric parable with elements of a detective story, "Black Cat from a Green Poplar" - a story about the dramatic relationship between a mother and son, and "Zoo" - a story about an unusual incident in a menagerie.