Netochka Nezvanova

Fedor Dostoevsky’s unfinished novel, later turned by the author into a novella.

The life of Nastechka Nezvanova is traced from age 8 to 17. At first, the girl lives with her mother and stepfather Efimov in a tiny attic room in a large Petersburg house. A gifted violinist—infantile, childishly arrogant and impudent—lives off his wife’s “villainy,” as people claim she ruined his talent. Without understanding the true nature of their relationship, Nastechka becomes passionately attached to her “father” and dreams that after her sick mother dies she will leave with him into a new, happy life—into a “house with red curtains,” a wealthy mansion visible from their window. Taking advantage of her blind love, Efimov forces her to deceive her mother and hand him the last money for a ticket to a concert by a famous violinist…