Ruslan and Lyudmila

Step into the legendary realm of a famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin with this extraordinary deck - a stunning narrative reimaging of the epic poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila", translated flawlessly into the timeless hierarchy of playing cards.

Conceived by the visionary art collective "Karte-Mesto!" (Карте-место!, Card Takes its Rightful Place), this deck is brought to life by the exceptional talents of Natalia Bogdanova, Maria Vzglyadova, and Evgeniya Shkalina.

Right: The artwork on the card backs illustrates the opening lines of Pushkin's poem, with black cats, oak leaves and chains.

"On seashore far a green oak towers,
And to it with a gold chain bound,
A learned cat whiles away the hours
By walking slowly round and round..."

This isn't just a deck; it's a story dealt in suits. Each character's rank is a direct reflection of their dramatic influence on the tale. The powerful knight Ruslan, the triumphant hero of the poem, boldly claims his throne as the Ace. The treacherous sorcerer Chernomor, the sovereign of dark magic and primary antagonist, reigns supreme as the King. Capturing the archetype of the classic damsel whose peril ignites the entire adventure, the enchanting Lyudmila takes her rightful place as the Queen, and Ruslan's rivals, Farlaf, Rogdai and Ratmir, become Jacks. From there, the entire cast of the beloved Russian folklore epic falls perfectly into place - shuffle the deck, and the game begins anew with every hand.

The first edition is limited to 300 copies and printed in Moscow. The pack contains 36 playing cards (6–10, J, Q, K and A) and one extra descriptive card, measuring 57 × 89 mm. For another Pushkin-themed pack, see Peter Burnett's article Pushkin.