The Dark

Andreyev, Leonid, 1871-1919Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 105K words
Chapters: 11

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Dark by Leonid AndreyevAuthor: Andreyev, Leonid, 1871-1919,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Aug 4, 2015

Editor's review

The Dark is a novella or short work by the Russian writer Leonid Andreyev, included in Project Gutenberg's free e-book series. Andreyev is known for a gloomy, symbolic style, often focusing on spiritual predicaments and moral ambiguity in extreme situations, and this book continues in that vein. The work is short and its narrative condensed, making it a suitable introductory sample for understanding the style of Russian Silver Age literature, and also suitable for readers studying Andreyev's thematic preoccupations to read in comparison. The electronic edition is an English translation, and readers should note the feel of the translation and its period traces. Since the Gutenberg edition circulates as a public-domain electronic text, the layout is plain and there are no notes, making it better suited to readers with some English reading ability who are used to looking up background material themselves. It is best regarded within the context of Russian short-story reading rather than as a strongly plotted diversion.

Who it's for

A good fit for

English-language readers interested in Russian Silver Age literature
Literature enthusiasts who want a brief encounter with Andreyev's style
Students of the short story and comparative literature readers
Independent learners accustomed to public-domain electronic texts
Readers needing English short-story material for close-reading practice

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer light entertainment or strongly plotted stories
Those not yet proficient in English reading who need Chinese annotation
Readers seeking detailed introductions and scholarly notes
Readers sensitive to gloomy, symbolic styles

Reading tips

First read through once to grasp the atmosphere and the characters' situation; do not rush to interpret symbols.
On a second reading, mark recurring images and shifts in tone, and take brief notes.
After reading, look up Andreyev's life and the background of the Russian Silver Age for comparison.
If English is difficult, read bilingual editions of short stories from the same period to lower the difficulty.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in English or Chinese?

This is the English electronic edition published by Project Gutenberg; the original is Russian, and what is provided here is an English translation. Before reading, confirm whether your English reading ability is sufficient; if you need notes and an introduction, it is advisable to find an annotated edition for comparison.

What are the characteristics of the Gutenberg edition?

The Gutenberg edition is a free public-domain electronic text with a simple layout, usually without scholarly notes, a long translator's introduction, or illustrations. Its advantages are easy access and freedom to copy and cite; its shortcoming is that readers must supplement background material themselves, and the reading experience is plain.

Can I read this directly without having read Andreyev before?

Yes. It is short and concentrated in narrative, making it a suitable starting point for encountering his style. But if you are entirely unfamiliar with Russian Silver Age literature, it is advisable to read one or two short stories from the same period first to establish context; then this book will be easier to grasp in its symbolic and emotional key.

What supplementary materials should I prepare for reading?

You may prepare a brief chronology of Andreyev's life, an overview of Russian Silver Age literature, and a glossary or name list in English-Russian comparison. If doing research, it is advisable also to consult annotated paper anthologies to check translation differences and textual details.

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About the author

Andreyev, Leonid, 1871-1919 Author

Leonid Andreyev (1871–1919) was a Russian writer, with fourteen of his works included in this collection. Public information about him is limited, and biographical details are difficult to verify, yet the surviving works show a body of fiction and drama centered on death, fear, madness, and the absurd predicament of human existence. The Seven Who Were Hanged depicts the psychology of condemned prisoners awaiting execution in a restrained manner, while The Red Laugh presents the sensory and spiritual collapse brought by war. He Who Gets Slapped and The Life of Man explore fate and human nature on the stage. His intense, strongly symbolic style often uses exaggerated situations to reveal existential unease, giving him a distinctive place in early twentieth-century Russian literature; his works have been translated into many languages and have influenced later drama and psychological fiction.