Rasskaz-provokatsiya (The Story Provocation) is the second in the series of unconventional Russian language textbooks for elementary/preintermediate levels (A2-B1).

The books, written in the form of fun to listen to detective lines, follow the continuing story of George, a Guadeloupian banker embarking on a journey who sees his day-to-day life set against a series of most peculiar events. In the third book, Rasskaz-kanonizatsiya, there also is a second historical storyline, following a Russian professor who fled his country after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Their lives cross in the book.

Based on his years of language teaching experience, Ignaty was keen to write a series of stories that would teach useful vocabulary and grammar after some of his business clients complained that existing textbooks were boring and had no relation to real life.

"I was inspired by the talent of Mikhail Bulgakov, who mastered the skill of talking about complex subjects in an ironic form. I began writing the book which you can now see," says Ignaty Dyakov.

So his textbooks are fascinating detective stories with characters from different cultural backgrounds meeting in Guadeloupe, Russia, and Europe. They live, love, work, and relax. And, most importantly, they fight the world's evil, show exceptional ethics both in life and in work, and give us a better understanding of what is a kinder and ethical life.

Mr Dyakov said, "There is an understanding that a textbook nowadays should be kind, humorous, and inviting, as there is far too much negativity around us, especially in the media and on social networks."