Why read The Meek One?

Book cover of The Meek One

Book description

This fully annotated paperback learner's edition of Dostoevsky's short story The Meek One is intended for intermediate and advanced Russian students. In addition to the Russian text, the book includes an introduction discussing the story's historical context, literary significance, and critical response; an extensive glossary and a learner's dictionary; discussion…

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Classics

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Meek One as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Taha Kehar

Author

Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Meek One (also published as A Gentle Spirit) is a slim yet deeply introspective work that explores the troubled marriage between a pawnbroker and his young wife. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russia, the narrative retains a haunting resonance for modern readers as it conveys the quiet turbulence that assails marital relationships. Filtered through the voice of a self-absorbed narrator, The Meek One is far from an optimistic tale. Through its bleak conclusion, Dostoevsky reveals how love can become the site for spiritual, emotional and psychological violence.

From Taha's 3 favorite reads in 2025.