Ilya Grigorievich Erenburg (1891–1967) is one of the most popular Russian writers of the 20th century, an extremely complex and multifaceted figure. A well-known poet in his time, a talented translator, a subtle essayist, memoirist, the most famous publicist of the 30s and 40s, he was primarily an outstanding prose writer, the author of many bestsellers. Having passed the test of time, his first book “The Extraordinary Adventures of Julio Jurenito” and the novel that followed it “The Life and Death of Nikolai Kurbov” still sound fresh and original. It is not so easy to classify them into any specific novel category: lyrical satire, picaresque, socio-psychological, parody, philosophical novels - all these definitions will be valid in their own way. But one way or another, the modern reader will not be disappointed. A fascinating read awaits.