📗 Shestov (1866-1938) was a Russian existential philosopher known for his "Philosophy of Despair". Born in Kiev into a Jewish family he emigrated to France in 1921, fleeing the aftermath of the October Revolution, and lived in Paris until his death. This book which investigates the difference between Russian and European literature was first published in 1905 and is reprinted from the authorised English translation of 1920 with a foreword by D H Lawrence who was a great admirer of Shestov's work.