“The Pit” is the most tragic book by Kuprin, which made an incredible impression on readers and critics with its realistic depiction of the lives of women working in a brothel. The novel stuns with its precision and brutal truth. The characters, their clients, and the only friend—a journalist—have deep psychology and realism. The book captivates not because of the scandalous topic, but because of the author’s sincere and humane attitude toward the fates of these women.