“First love is a revolution… The monotonous and correct order of established life is broken down and destroyed in one instant…” — Ivan Turgenev
Chapter 1
The story begins with a gathering of men reminiscing about their first loves. Vladimir Petrovich, the narrator, decides to write down his own experience, introducing the central theme of youthful passion and its lasting impact.
Chapter 2
Sixteen-year-old Vladimir spends the summer at his family’s country estate. His parents are distant, and he spends his days in idle solitude until the arrival of the Zasekins, a neighboring aristocratic family, disrupts his peaceful routine.
Chapter 3
Vladimir meets Zinaida Alexandrovna, the beautiful and enigmatic 21-year-old daughter of Princess Zasekina. Despite her coquettish behavior and the crowd of admirers around her, Vladimir is instantly infatuated, marking the beginning of his obsessive first love.
Chapter 4
Zinaida toys with Vladimir’s affections, alternating between tenderness and cruel indifference. He becomes one of many suitors vying for her attention, including the older Count Malevsky, who manipulates the situation to his advantage.
Chapter 5
Vladimir’s father, a cold and reserved man, takes an unusual interest in Zinaida. The boy notices their secretive meetings but refuses to acknowledge the implications, blinded by his youthful idealism.
Chapter 6
Zinaida’s behavior grows increasingly erratic. She confides in Vladimir about her unhappiness but refuses to explain further. Meanwhile, tensions rise between Vladimir’s parents, hinting at a deeper marital conflict.
Chapter 7
Vladimir accidentally witnesses a clandestine meeting between Zinaida and his father. Shattered by the betrayal, he confronts Zinaida, who tearfully admits her love for the older man but insists Vladimir will never understand.
Chapter 8
The story reaches its climax when Vladimir’s father suffers a stroke after a secret rendezvous with Zinaida. On his deathbed, he writes her a letter, which Vladimir’s mother burns unread. Zinaida vanishes without explanation.
Chapter 9
Years later, Vladimir learns that Zinaida married another man and died in childbirth. The memory of his first love lingers as a bittersweet reminder of the intensity and naivety of youth.
Key Ideas
- The transformative power of first love and its lifelong emotional imprint.
- The clash between youthful idealism and the harsh realities of adult relationships.
- Social hierarchies and their influence on personal desires.
- The destructive nature of unrequited passion.
- The inevitability of disillusionment in the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Who should read this book?
- Readers who enjoy classic Russian literature and psychological depth.
- Those fascinated by themes of unrequited love and coming-of-age.
- Fans of lyrical, introspective narratives with tragic undertones.