Last Pages from a Woman's Diary

The husband of a young woman, the author of a diary, is found murdered in his study. The heroine tries to continue her usual life, balancing between two lovers; however, her widowhood and freedom only complicate their relationship. One of the lovers confesses to the murder of her husband, while the other commits suicide, unable to bear the realization that the woman he worships shares her favor between him and his rival. At the end of the story, the tortured heroine leaves for the south of France in the company of her sister—who has become her lover.

“Last Pages from a Woman’s Diary” is a novella by V. Ya. Bryusov, first published in the magazine “Russkaya Mysl” (1910) and later included in the book “Nights and Days. Second Book of Stories and Dramatic Scenes.”