This collection showcases the dramatic works of Leonid Andreyev, one of Russia's foremost early 20th-century playwrights. The Black Maskers explores themes of existential dread and inevitability, The Life of Man reflects on the fragility of human existence, and The Sabine Women delves into psychological conflict and societal values. Andreyev's plays are marked by their deep philosophical inquiry and dark, symbolic imagery.

Leonid Nikolaievich Andreyev (1871-1919) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who led the Expressionist movement in the national literature. He was active between the 1905 revolution and the Communist revolution which overthrew the Tsarist government.