The Prince of Oldenburg’ by Fazil Iskander. Short summary

5 seconds

The story of how young Uncle Sandro accidentally caught a rare black swan that escaped from Prince of Oldenburg. As a reward, the prince gave Uncle Sandro a pair of Zeiss binoculars.

1 minute

A story in the series «Sandro of Chegem.» Prince of Oldenburg decided to create a model of ideal monarchy in Gagra and started to develop crafts in the city, build workshops, decorate the city with parks, ponds, swans and other things. But one day the prince’s favorite, a black Australian swan, disappeared from the park.

It was this missing swan that was brought to the prince by young Sandro, who at first was mistaken for an intruder. Uncle Sandro told him that he was riding from Gudauta to the village of Achandary and suddenly saw an amazing black bird in the sea near the shore. Such birds were not found in these parts.

At first he tried to shoot it, but then with great difficulty he caught the bird with his bare hands. Sandro decided to take the swan to Prince Oldenburgsky, who was rumored to be buying up all sorts of curiosities.

The prince gave Uncle Sandro a pair of Zeiss binoculars as a thank-you for the pet he had found, which later played a major role in his life.