The book opens on a train journey where a nervous passenger named Posdnicheff confesses to a fellow traveller that he murdered his wife out of jealousy. He recounts his life before marriage, detailing his involvement in dissipation while dreaming of an ideal, pure union. He argues that contemporary society views women primarily as instruments of pleasure rather than human beings, leading to an abyss of falsehood and violence in marriage. After wedding a young woman from a ruined family, the honeymoon quickly turns into a period of ennui and mutual hostility, intensified by child-rearing and lack of true moral foundation. The entrance of a violinist named Troukhatchevsky into their household sparks a fatal jealousy, culminating in the tragic murder of his wife.
Following the main novella, the collection includes 'Ivan the Fool,' a tale portraying Tolstoy's communistic and pacifist ideas through the trials of three brothers. Another story, 'A Lost Opportunity,' paints a true picture of Russian peasant life, highlighting the tragic consequences of a petty neighborhood quarrel that could have been avoided by forgiveness. 'Polikushka' provides a powerful reproduction of court servant life and illustrates the awful consequences of intemperance. The book offers deep moral lessons on the nature of love, marriage, and human suffering, challenging conventional social norms and urging a return to chastity and simplicity.
