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