White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky: A Timeless Story of Love, Longing & Solitude | Classic Fiction, Russian Literature, Romantic Novella | Penguin Little Black Classics

A must buy book

Best

I absolutely loved the story! The writing is engaging, the pacing is fantastic, and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend the book itself to anyone interested in this genre.However, I am a bit disappointed with the physical condition of the copy I received. It was listed as "Very Good," but it arrived with more wear and tear than expected. It is still readable, but the exterior condition didn't quite meet the standards of the description.

The book quality is nice and I'm very excited to read this.

White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a short and emotional read about loneliness, love, and longing. The story follows a nameless narrator who experiences a brief but intense connection with a girl in the quiet nights of St. Petersburg. It feels dreamy and a bit sad at the same time, especially the way he imagines love versus reality. It’s simple in plot but really strong in emotion, and it stays with you even after you finish it🤍

great book and smaller than expected. good quality too

Review: White Nights (Novel) Author: Fyodor Dostoevsky Publication: Penguin Classics Total Pages: 113 First Edition: 2016 Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella White Nights was first published in 1848, and the fact that it is still read 178 years later speaks for its enduring relevance. At its core, the novel is the story of four nights shared between two main characters the unnamed narrator and Nastenka. The narrator is portrayed as a deeply sensitive person who lives in a world of dreams, carrying his own pain, regrets, and unfulfilled desires. Along with the absence of love, a profound sense of loneliness expands the emptiness in his life. The story begins on a star-lit night in St. Petersburg, where the narrator gazes at the sky and watches people around him leave their homes to escape the harsh winter in search of warmer places. While wandering through the city at night, he meets a young woman named Nastenka, who has been waiting for her lover for the past year and tonight, she believes, he will finally return. From this meeting, the narrative unfolds across four nights, tracing how love, separation, and waiting play out between Nastenka and the narrator. Nastenka has her own limitations and dreams, which the narrator listens to with patience and care. As a wanderer of dreams, he tries to understand his own feelings of love. Dostoevsky portrays this emotional journey with remarkable beauty. The ache between the two characters and the sadness of their future lives are symbolically reflected through the city’s emptiness, the night, and the cold winds, making the story even more evocative. The way the two characters meet and converse is written with such subtlety that what remains unsaid carries as much weight as what is spoken. These unexpressed emotions keep the reader deeply engaged, prompting constant questions: What if this doesn’t happen? Are they being completely honest with each other? By the end, the story does offer answers—though they may not be entirely satisfying, they feel appropriate for the time in which the work was written. As for the writing itself, both creativity and fine detail remain consistent throughout the novella. The narrative flow is so well crafted that the reader remains curious about what will happen next. If you are in the mood to read something truly good, you should seek out this book. Well-translated works are rare, and for that reason alone, White Nights deserves a place on your reading list. - Sahityayatri (11/01/2026)

Great book, Nice binding and page quality, Great Cover.

A surprisingly small-sized book, lean read! The size made it easy for me to finish the book within a day. A great option for those looking to sample classic authors that are typically hard to read, as it requires commitment and the right headspace to absorb and appreciate their writing. Happy reading!

A tender and emotional story about loneliness, hope, and fleeting love. Dostoevsky’s writing is intimate and atmospheric, capturing the ache of unfulfilled dreams and human connection. Short, heartfelt, and quietly unforgettable.

Nil

Good quality