Snowball: A New Translation

Alexandre Dumas' The Snowball (La Boule de Neige) is a sharp, humorous short story set in the Caucasus-a land he visited during his travels through Russia in the 1850s. Drawing from real landscapes and cultural encounters, Dumas creates a tightly woven tale that begins with something utterly harmless: a snowball tossed in jest. But in a society where honor is everything, this innocent act quickly snowballs into a ridiculous series of accusations, duels, and bruised egos.

Set against the backdrop of a remote Caucasian village, the story satirizes the volatile mix of military pride, rigid codes of honor, and the absurd lengths to which men will go to save face. With his usual flair for drama and irony, Dumas highlights how a simple misunderstanding, fueled by vanity and protocol, can spiral into needless chaos.

Though brief, The Snowball is a brilliant example of Dumas' range-not just as a writer of grand adventures, but as a keen observer of human folly. It's a light but biting social comedy, rooted in real places and manners, but universal in its message.

This edition brings a lesser-known gem to contemporary readers, proving once again that even in his shortest works, Dumas never misses a chance to entertain-and to make us think.