Originally published anonymously, "The Stationmaster" (1830), is perhaps the finest short story by the "father of Russian literature," Alexander Pushkin. One of the Tales of the Late Ivan Petrovich Belkin, the story chronicles the tragic story of a humble stationmaster and his beautiful runaway daughter.

"The Stationmaster" is considered influential for its concise, plain style, a hallmark of Pushkin's writing. The story is told in chronological order, with a clear beginning, middle, and end and addresses themes such as familial vs. romantic love, moral corruption, the conflict between social classes, and the ambiguity of human existence.