<DIV>This captivating novel is the summation of Odoevsky's views and interests in many fields: Gothic literature, romanticism, mysticism, the occult, social responsibility, Westernization, utopia and anti-utopia. Compared to <I>The Decameron,</I> to Hoffman's <I>Serapion Brethren, </I>and to the Platonic dialogues, <I>Russian Nights</I> is a unique mixture of romantic and society tales framed by Odoevsky's musings on strands of Russian thought and his own obsessions.<BR></DIV>