Misaïl Poloznev, nicknamed “Little Benefit,” is a provincial nobleman and the son of an architect much respected by everyone. He is already 25, yet he still can’t find his place in life. He’s tried working as a telegraph clerk, an enlisted man, and a pharmacist… In the end, he starts working as a simple painter.
In a small town where nepotism and bribery rule, such an event can’t go unnoticed—society turns away from the hero.
And it’s impossible to predict what Misaïl’s choice will lead to. A moral crisis overcome, a ticket to a new life? Or voluntary isolation, regression, and a final downfall?