Leonid Andreyev was a Russian playwright, short story writer and novelist born in Oryol, Russia in 1871. He was a prominent figure in the Russian Symbolist movement and his works often explored existentialist themes, focusing on the human condition and the struggle for meaning in a nihilistic world. His most famous works include the plays "The Red Laugh" and "He Who Gets Slapped," as well as the short story "Seven Who Were Hanged." Andreyev's writing was widely acclaimed and influenced a generation of Russian writers, cementing his place as one of the most important writers of the early 20th century.
