Galya Ganskaya by Ivan Bunin. Short summary

5 seconds

The artist, visiting Odessa from time to time, wooed the young Galya Ganskaya. After a few years they become lovers. The girl is poisoned when she learns from others that he is going to Italy.

1 minute

Sitting in a Paris cafe, the artist and his sailor acquaintance recall a spring in Odessa, the lovely Galya Ganskaya. She grew up without a mother. Her painter father is visited by creative young people, and everyone pays attention to the pretty daughter.

After a couple of years, the young man runs into her in the street. He buys her flowers, treats her with chocolate, and invites her to his studio. The girl looks at the paintings with admiration and is about to leave. He sits her on his lap and does not let her go.

They never see each other again. A year later, the artist visits the Ganskys’ house. The young people go for a walk on the shore. He embraces Galya, but she pulls away and leaves. Then, in the workshop, he takes pity on her: there was nothing but kisses.

Six months later they meet on the same street. Galya laughs at the coincidence, and offers to go to him herself. A couple of weeks later, the artist is going to Italy. The girl is offended to hear about it from others. They quarrel. In the evening he is informed that Galya Ganskaya has been poisoned.