424 Results with the "Fiction" genre
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Chapter
PART THE THIRD
Paphnutius, having returned to the desert from Alexandria where he converted the courtesan Thais to a life of piety, struggles with temptations and doubts about his faith. The holy desert, his former haven of peace, now feels alien to him. Despite the joyous welcome from his disciples, Paphnutius finds himself disenchanted with his cell and the ascetic life he once cherished. The tranquility and sense of divine presence he used to feel are replaced with a profound sense of loss and a questioning of his…-
7.2 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
THE SCHOOLMISTRESS
In a quiet, reflective tone, the chapter introduces Marya Vassilyevna, a meticulous schoolmistress pondering over her school’s upcoming examination while journeying home through desolate, muddy Russian countryside. Her thoughts are momentarily diverged by news of a government clerk's arrest and the passing encounter with Hanov, a neighboring landowner known for his lethargy and alleged drinking habits, once an examiner at her school. Marya Vassilyevna reflects on Hanov’s inexplicable choice to live in…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
A TRAGIC ACTOR
In "A Tragic Actor," the story unfolds on the benefit night of Fenogenov, a celebrated tragic actor, during the performance of "Prince Serebryany" where his prowess leaves the audience, especially Masha, the police captain's daughter, in awe. This marks Masha's first encounter with the theater, igniting an unparalleled passion within her. Moved by the performances, Masha persuades her father to extend a dinner invitation to the actors, excluding the actresses, fearing the influence they might wield over…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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A TRANSGRESSION
In "A Transgression," the story unfolds around Collegiate Assessor Miguev, who, while reflecting on a past indiscretion with his former housemaid Agnia, finds himself in a dilemma when she threatens to expose him. Agnia demands he secure the future of their illegitimate child, threatening to leave the baby at his doorstep. One evening, haunted by the encounter, Miguev discovers a bundled baby left at his bungalow. Panicked and ashamed, fearing societal repercussions—ranging from spousal disappointment to…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
SMALL FRY
In "Small Fry," a story from "The Schoolmistress and Other Stories," the reader is introduced to a petty clerk named Nevyrazimov, laboring over an Easter congratulatory letter in a dimly lit, dingy office. The setting is lonely and desolate, emphasized by the presence of a stray cockroach and the distant sound of a porter cleaning his boots, suggesting a mundane and unfulfilling life. Nevyrazimov's musings reveal his dissatisfaction and yearning for a different existence, contrasted sharply with the…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
THE REQUIEM
In the peaceful village of Verhny Zaprudy, the churchgoers disperse after the conclusion of mass, leaving shopkeeper Andrey Andreyitch the last to linger, immersed in his private somber reflections amidst the church's familiar environs. His presence attracts the ire of Father Grigory, who confronts him over an insensitively worded prayer note for his deceased daughter, Mariya, igniting a heated exchange that publicly challenges Andrey's understanding of sin, repentance, and parental duty. Andrey, adorned…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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IN THE COACH-HOUSE
In a dimly lit coach-house surrounded by the nocturnal quiet of a large estate, a group consisting of Stepan the coachman, Mihailo the house-porter, Alyoshka the coachman's grandson, and Nikandr, a septuagenarian salt herring vendor, gather for a casual game of "kings" in the shadows of carriages and sleighs. The game's camaraderie is punctuated by the ringing of the gate—a call to the porter, revealing a grim situation in the master's household: a tragic incident involving a fatal gunshot. As the night…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
PANIC FEARS
In "Panic Fears," the narrator recounts three distinct episodes of terror experienced during his lifetime. The first instance unfolds on a motionless July evening as he drives to the station for newspapers. Along a secluded road, enveloped in twilight and stillness, he is struck by a haunting vision: a mysterious light flickering atop a village belfry, in a place devoid of logical explanations for such a phenomenon. Despite attempting rationalizations, a gripping fear takes hold, amplified by the desolate…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
THE BET
On an autumn night, reflecting back fifteen years, a banker recalls a party where capital punishment was debated. The consensus among the guests, mainly intellectuals and journalists, was a disapproval of the death penalty, preferring life imprisonment as more humane. The banker disagreed, arguing that immediate death was more merciful. A young lawyer then expressed his preference for life in prison over execution. This ignited a fervent debate leading the banker to impulsively bet two million that the…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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Chapter
A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
The chapter presents a deeply moving narrative centered on Vassilyev, a law student in Moscow, who is introduced to the harrowing world of prostitution by his friends, the medical student Mayer and the artist Rybnikov. Initially ignorant and naive about the realities of "fallen women," Vassilyev's experience in S. Street's brothels profoundly affects him, leading him into a severe emotional and psychological crisis. Despite his friends' more detached or frivolous attitudes towards the encounters, Vassilyev…-
43.4 K • Ongoing
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