008 - Chapter 8

In this gripping tale, Laevsky finds himself in a small seaside town in the Caucasus after abandoning his old life for Nadyezhda Fyodorovna, another man’s wife. However, the dreams of a fresh start quickly fade as Laevsky succumbs to a life of idleness, filled with drinking and card games, while Nadyezhda seeks solace in other affairs. As Laevsky devises a plan to escape once more—this time without his mistress—he crosses paths with the rationalist Von Koren, who is a staunch believer in Darwinian principles of natural selection. When tensions rise and Laevskys frustrations boil over, the stage is set for a duel that promises to teach him a harsh lesson about life and consequences. (Introduction by Phil)