White Nights

by Fyodor Dostoevsky · 1848

White Nights is a short story by Fyodor Dostoevsky first published in 1848. Set in St. Petersburg, it follows a lonely, introspective young man who wanders the city’s streets and meets a young woman, Nastenka. Over four nights they share their feelings of isolation, longing, and unrequited love. The tender, lyrical narrative explores themes of love, loneliness, alienation, dreams, and the clash of romanticism with realism.