White Nights (short story)

White Nights is a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1848. Subtitled "A Sentimental Romance (From the Memoirs of a Dreamer)," it is written in the first person from the perspective of a young, unnamed narrator residing in St. Petersburg.

The story unfolds over four nights and a morning in the summer, during the period of the "white nights" – a phenomenon in St. Petersburg where the city experiences near-daylight conditions throughout the night. The narrator, a lonely and isolated man, encounters a young woman named Nastenka weeping on a street corner. He offers her his assistance, and they begin a series of nightly meetings.

Nastenka reveals that she is waiting for her fiancé, who has been gone for a year and promised to return. The narrator, initially drawn to Nastenka's vulnerability and beauty, falls in love with her. He provides her with companionship and solace while she awaits her fiancé's return. Their conversations are filled with the narrator's romantic idealism and Nastenka's hopeful but ultimately uncertain expectations.

On the fourth night, as the narrator confesses his love for her, Nastenka is unexpectedly reunited with her fiancé. Despite the narrator's hopes, she chooses to be with her original love interest.

The story concludes with a melancholic reflection from the narrator, who acknowledges the brevity and bittersweet nature of his connection with Nastenka. He realizes that his "white night" of happiness has come to an end, leaving him to return to his solitary existence.

White Nights explores themes of loneliness, isolation, unrequited love, dreams versus reality, and the fleeting nature of happiness. It is considered a classic example of Dostoevsky's early works, showcasing his psychological insight and his ability to portray the inner lives of marginalized individuals. The story's romantic and sentimental tone contrasts with the darker, more complex themes found in his later novels.