Don Mager translates a much loved epic Russian poem into the English language. Mtsyri is one of Lermontov's many works set in Georgia. It is celebrated for its eloquent depiction of the Caucases Mountains and Georgian landscape. Mtsyri's battle with the leopard is similar to a popular Georgian folk legend and there are at least fourteen versions of the folksong "Young Man and a Tiger." - Don Mager