White Nights

What it is

White Nights is a short story written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1848, early in his career. It is told in the first person by an unnamed lonely young man living in Saint Petersburg.

Why it matters

The story introduced what became known as the Petersburg 'dreamer' type, a solitary figure cut off from real human connection, a theme Dostoevsky returned to throughout his career. It shows his early talent for portraying loneliness and longing before the darker, more philosophical novels that made him famous.

Look closer

• Why do you think the narrator remains nameless throughout the story?
• What does the title 'White Nights' (referring to St Petersburg's long summer twilight) add to the story's mood?
• How might a young writer's own experience of loneliness shape such a story?