Russian writers described various aspects of romantic relationships that can be unequal, fleeting, or full of passion. Stories about first love, an unequal marriage, betrayals, and jealousy show that lovers make mistakes and surrender completely to their feelings. These themes are explored in Bunin’s, Veresaev’s, Kuprin’s, Chekhov’s, Taffi’s, and A. N. Tolstoy’s stories, gathered in a single collection.