Publisher's Synopsis
The Queen of Spades is a classic novella by the renowned Russian author, Alexander Pushkin. The story is set in St. Petersburg and revolves around the obsession of a young officer, Hermann, with winning at cards. Hermann becomes fixated on a story he hears about an old countess who possesses the secret to winning at cards. He becomes determined to learn the secret from her and sets out to seduce her granddaughter, Lizaveta, in order to gain access to the countess.As Hermann becomes more and more obsessed with his goal, he begins to lose touch with reality and becomes increasingly unstable. He eventually confronts the countess and demands to know the secret, but she dies before revealing it to him. Hermann's obsession with the secret ultimately leads to his downfall, as he becomes haunted by the ghost of the countess and is driven to madness.The Queen of Spades is a gripping tale of ambition, obsession, and the dangers of unchecked desire. Pushkin's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and setting to life, creating a haunting and unforgettable reading experience. This classic work of Russian literature continues to captivate readers to this day and is a must-read for anyone interested in the genre.For all that, the letter caused her to feel exceedingly uneasy. For the first time in her life she was entering into secret and confidential relations with a young man. His boldness alarmed her. She reproached herself for her imprudent behavior, and knew not what to do. Should she cease to sit at the window, and, by assuming an appearance of indifference towards him, put a check upon the young officer's desire for further acquaintance with her?This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
