How I Met Nastenka

The story-teller recalls his first meeting with Nastenka, and the man who brought them together.

1848

Queen Victoria 1837-1901 Nicholas I, Emperor of Russia 1825-1855

The Cathedral of St Isidore, St Petersburg, in the small hours.

A view along the Griboyedov Canal in St Petersburg, from the Semimost’ye, looking towards the Church of St Isidore at the end of a ‘white night’ in June 2018. The church was built in 1907, so it was not here in Dostoevsky’s day. St Petersburg is on roughly the same latitude as Shetland, and during June the nights remain light, creating a romantic mood that a ‘dreamer’ such as the narrator of Dostoevsky’s story had little hope of resisting — even had he wanted to to resist it.

Introduction

‘White Nights’ (1848) is set in St Petersburg during those enchanted June nights when the sun barely dips below the horizon. It was on such a night that the unnamed narrator of Dostoevsky’s tale caught his first glimpse of the woman he came to know as Nastenka, and he was far too highly strung to resist the spell.

by Fyodor Dostoevsky 1821-1881

Leaning on the canal railing stood a woman with her elbows on the rail; she was apparently looking with great attention at the muddy water of the canal. She was wearing a very charming yellow hat and a jaunty little black mantle. “She’s a girl, and I am sure she is dark,” I thought. She did not seem to hear my footsteps, and did not even stir when I passed by with bated breath and loudly throbbing heart. “Strange,” I thought; “she must be deeply absorbed in something,” and all at once I stopped as though petrified. I heard a muffled sob. Yes! I was not mistaken, the girl was crying, and a minute later I heard sob after sob. Good Heavens! My heart sank. And timid as I was with women, yet this was such a moment!... I turned, took a step towards her, and should certainly have pronounced the word “Madam!” if I had not known that that exclamation has been uttered a thousand times in every Russian society novel. It was only that reflection stopped me.

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Précis

In his short story White Nights, Dostoevsky’s narrator describes how he saw a girl by canal side, leaning over the railings and staring into the waters. As he came nearer, he realised that she was crying — and shy though he was, he resolved to speak to her, though the words that came first into his mind were frustratingly melodramatic.

Sevens

Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.

Why did the narrator hesitate to speak to Nastenka?

Suggestion

Because he was always shy around women.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

I saw a girl. She was crying. I didn’t know what to do.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IDepth. IILoss. IIITears.

Clay Lane The Copybook

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