Huge Fountain by Alexandr Kuprin. Short summary

5 seconds

In the summer in the south, Michael, drunk on the scent of white acacia trees, gets married as if in a stupor.
The author visits him. Mikhail complains about his wife, but he cannot leave her. He blames it on the southern summer and the white acacia trees.

1 minute

The author tells the story of the marriage of his friend Mikhail Govorkov, a staunch bachelor.

While vacationing in the village of Bolshoi Fountain near Odessa, Mikhail falls under the charms of a southern summer, the witchy scent of blooming white acacia trees, and falls in love with the daughter of the owner of a cheap canteen.

Nina is charming in her youth and lazy. The hero compares himself to a fly on Velcro: sweet, unpleasant, but impossible to tear away.
Mikhail, as if in a stupor, marries Nina.

The young wife is not happy with her husband’s social circle. Her friends stop visiting him. The author visits Govorkov a year later, choosing the moment when Nina is away on business.

Mikhail complains to his friend that his wife is greedy and stupid. She quarrels with the servants, gossips about her husband, and considers him a monster. Govorkov fears that his wife will one day beat him.

The author persuades Govorkov to flee to St. Petersburg. He promises help with a job. Mikhail is afraid of his wife and does not dare to escape. He is firmly entangled in the relationship, and blames it all on the southern summer and the white acacia tree. The friends say goodbye forever.