Summary

"HenneThis is Fire" tells the story of a woman who lived in a small village in Russia. It is told from the point of view of a man who also lived in the village. Henne was an evil woman with a fiery, shrewish nature. She had dark features, like a gypsy, and was extremely thin. People who had seen her bathing in the river knew she was all skin and bones.

Henne acted like an insane woman. She took offense at anything anyone would say. She would smash dishes, scream, shake her fists, fall into convulsions, spit curses and show all kinds of vile behavior. She suspected that the entire town was out to get her for one reason or another.

She was married to a poor, hard-working sieve-maker, and they managed to have four daughters, all of whom left home...