
In the glittering world of 1870s Russian high society, a seemingly ordinary household is thrown into chaos when a husband’s secret affair is uncovered. The ensuing tension ripples through every corner of the home, exposing the fragile balance between personal desire and social expectation. Through the eyes of the remorseful husband, the story captures the uneasy mix of embarrassment, guilt, and the desperate search for redemption.
Beyond this domestic rupture, the novel widens its gaze to follow the intersecting lives of several aristocratic families, each wrestling with love, ambition, and the rigid codes that govern them. A striking young woman arrives in Moscow, her beauty and charisma igniting passions that challenge the very foundations of propriety. As relationships deepen and loyalties are tested, the narrative unfolds as a vivid portrait of a society where happiness is both coveted and constrained.
Language
en
Duration
~33 hours (1956K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
David Brannan, Andrew Sly and David Widger
Release date
1998-07-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1910
One of the great giants of world literature, he combined sweeping storytelling with deep questions about love, family, faith, and how to live. His novels still feel vivid because they pay such close attention to ordinary human thoughts and choices.
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