Literary authors employ the adjective “Russian” in a richly varied manner to evoke national identity, cultural specificity, and even linguistic nuance. In many works, “Russian” denotes a people or institution steeped in tradition—from the historical Russian army and officials in Tolstoy’s vast panoramas ([1], [2], [3]) to the deep-rooted customs and folklore celebrated in Russian folk-tales ([4], [5]). At times it serves as a straightforward ethnographic marker, as when characters are identified by their language or heritage ([6], [7], [8]), while in other instances it conveys a distinct cultural ethos, as exemplified by depictions of the “truly Russian” peasant or the inherent humor and sympathy found in Russian narratives ([9], [10], [11]). Thus, across genres and periods, “Russian” functions not only to situate a story geographically or historically but also to enrich it with a textured, multifaceted cultural flavor ([12], [13], [14]).