
In the bustling world of Russian high society, a seemingly ordinary household erupts into chaos when secrets surface and loyalties are tested. The story opens with a tangled domestic dispute that ripples through friends, servants, and distant relatives, exposing the fragile veneer of respectability that binds them all. As the characters navigate scandal, desire, and the expectations of their class, the narrative paints a vivid portrait of love’s many faces—passionate, forbidden, and self‑destructive.
Beyond the immediate drama, the novel unfolds as a sweeping examination of the choices that define a life. It follows a charismatic socialite whose charm masks deeper anxieties, and a young woman whose yearning for freedom collides with the rigid conventions of her world. Their intertwined journeys reveal how personal happiness often clashes with societal duty, inviting listeners to reflect on the timeless tension between heart and honor.
Language
fi
Duration
~33 hours (1935K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2015-07-19
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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