How Much Land Does a Man Need?

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So the peasants went on behalf of their Commune, and asked the lady not to sell the land to the innkeeper; offering her a better price for it themselves. The lady agreed to let them have it. Then the peasants tried to arrange for the Commune to buy the whole estate, so that it might be held by all in common. They met twice to discuss it, but could not settle the matter; the Evil One sowed discord among them, and they could not agree. So they decided to buy the land individually, each according to his means; and the lady agreed to this plan as she had to the other. As soon as Pahóm and his family arrived at their new abode, he applied for admission into the Commune of a large village. He stood treat to the Elders, and obtained the necessary documents. Five shares of Communal land were given him for his own and his sons' use: that is to say—125 acres (not all together, but in different fields) besides the use of the Communal pasture. Pahóm put up the buildings he needed, and bought cattle. Of the Communal land alone he had three times as much as at his former home, and the land was good corn-land. He was ten times better off than he had been. He had plenty of arable land and pasturage, and could keep as many head of cattle as he liked. Our only trouble is that we haven’t land enough. If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself! Pahom, p. 5

As far as the men were concerned, drinking kumiss and tea, eating mutton, and playing on their pipes was all they [the Bashkirs] cared about. They were all stout and merry, and all the summer long they never thought of doing any work. The narrator, p. 13 So Pahóm was well contented, and everything would have been right if the neighboring peasants would only not have trespassed on his corn-fields and meadows. He appealed to them most civilly, but they still went on: now the Communal herdsmen would let the village cows stray into his meadows; then horses from the night pasture would get among his corn. Pahóm turned them out again and again, and forgave their owners, and for a long time he forbore from prosecuting any one. But at last he lost patience and complained ​to the District Court. He knew it was the peasants' want of land, and no evil intent on their part, that caused the trouble; but he thought:All right," thought the Devil. "We will have a tussle. I'll give you land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power."

Look at that," thought he, "the land is all being sold, and I shall get none of it." So he spoke to his wife. You live in better style than we do, but though you often earn more than you need, you are very likely to lose all you have...our way is safer. Though a peasant's life is not a fat one, it is a long one. We shall never grow rich, but we shall always have enough to eat. The younger sister, p. 5 Shortly thereafter, Pahóm manages to buy some land from a lady in his village. He works hard, makes a profit and is able to pay off his debts and live a more comfortable life. But he is not satisfied and, after a peasant told him about the opportunity to own more land, he moves to a larger area of land.. Pahóm grows more crops and amasses a small fortune, but it is still not content. Now another character tells him of another opportunity to own more land.

Late in life, James Joyce wrote to his daughter that it is "the greatest story that the literature of the world knows"; [1] Ludwig Wittgenstein was another well-known admirer. [2] Motifs from the short story are used in the 1969 West German film Scarabea: How Much Land Does a Man Need? directed by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg. [3] The story was adapted into a graphic novel by Martin Veyron. [4] "Zameen" an episode from the 1986 Indian anthology series Katha Sagar was adapted from the story. The Bashkir leaders are charmed by Pahom’s gifts and tell him they will sell him however much land he wants for a thousand rubles. Pahom is skeptical of this unconventional offer, but the Bashkirs assure him that the deal is sound—however much land he can walk around in one day will be his. However, if he does not return to the starting point by sundown, both the land and money will be forfeit. Why should I suffer in this narrow hole, if one can live so well elsewhere? I will sell my land and my homestead here, and with the money I will start afresh over there and get everything new. In this crowded place one is always having trouble. But I must first go and find out all about it myself." How can I take as much as I like?' thought Pahóm. 'I must get a deed to make it secure, or else they may say, "It is yours," and afterwards may take it away again.'