White Nights. Poor Folk & The Double

"White Nights," an early yet enduringly beloved short story by Dostoevsky, unfolds over four nights in the life of its solitary narrator, who encounters and falls for the enigmatic and lovely Nastenka. On the other hand, "Poor Folk" was Dostoevsky's debut novel, penned in hopes of easing his financial hardships, and it became a commercial triumph. This novel unfolds through the letters exchanged between Makar Devushkin, a clerk, and Varvara Dobroselova, a seamstress. Their love is evident, but their financial constraints hinder marriage. Often hailed as Russia’s first "social novel" due to its focus on humanitarian themes, it contrasts sharply with Dostoevsky’s second novel, "The Double." First released in 1846 and revised for a 1866 reissue, Dostoevsky himself felt it was unsuccessful. In contrast, Vladimir Nabokov praised it as "the best thing he ever wrote" and labeled it "a perfect work of art."