The Circle by Vladimir Nabokov. Short summary

5 seconds

Innocent’s father worked at a school near the estate of a scientist who invited him and his son to his daughter’s birthday party. The girl called Innocent for a date and informed him that she and her mother were leaving soon.

1 minute

Innocent misses Russia and his youth. He recalls his deceased father, Ilya Ilyich, who was a teacher in a village school near the estate of the scientist Godunov-Cherdyntsev.

Innokenty lived with his aunt, and on vacations went to the village to visit his father. The owner of the estate had once helped Ilya Ilyich to get out of a political mess, for which he was grateful. Innokenty disliked Godunov-Cherdyntsev and the servants surrounding him.

One day the hosts invited Ilya Ilyich and his son to a celebration in honor of the 16th birthday of their daughter, Tanya. During the celebration, the girl handed Innocent a note inviting him to a night out in the park. When they meet, the girl cries, saying that tomorrow she is leaving for the south with her mother.

A short time later, war breaks out. Innocent learns of the death of Tanya’s father. One day he meets her mother in the street, and she invites him to visit. Innocent meets Tanya and her 10-year-old daughter and notices that she has remained as attractive as before.