
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
White Nights is a novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1848. It tells the story of a young man, the unnamed narrator, who is living alone in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is a dreamer, and spends his nights wandering the streets, watching the people around him and dreaming of finding love.
One night, he meets a young woman, Nastenka, who is also out walking alone. They become friends, and the narrator finds himself falling in love with her. However, Nastenka is already engaged to another man, and the narrator is left heartbroken.
The story follows the narrator as he struggles to come to terms with his unrequited love, and explores themes of loneliness, longing, and the power of dreams. In the end, the narrator finds solace in his dreams, and is able to move on with his life.
By Fyodor Dostoevsky · First published 1848 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Realism, Romance · 5 chapters · 20,471 words
First lines
A SENTIMENTAL NOVEL (From the Memoirs of a Dreamer)
Or was he fated from the start, to live for just one fleeting instant within the purlieus of your heart? - Ivan Turgenev
What this Textopian page supports
White Nights is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, dated 1848 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Date: 1848 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Realism, Romance, Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 20,471 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 707 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering White Nights?
- How does this novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — White Nights is a philosophical novel that explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the search for meaning in life.
- Realism — White Nights is a realistic novel that portrays the everyday life of its characters in a detailed and accurate manner.
- Romance — White Nights is a romantic novel that follows the story of a young man and woman who fall in love despite their differences.
- Psychological Fiction — White Nights is a psychological novel that delves into the inner workings of its characters' minds and explores their motivations and emotions.
Tags
romance · dreams · loneliness · urban · existentialism · narrative · psychological · imagination · love · isolation · night · hope
Contents
More by Fyodor Dostoevsky