White NightsWhite Nights
Score Classic
What it's about
In the melancholy beauty of St. Petersburg, a lonely dreamer has a fleeting, heartfelt encounter with a young woman, Nastenka. Dostoevsky's short tale captures the fragility of hope and the quiet devastation of unrequited love.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of Dostoevsky's most beloved short works, and a perfect introduction to him.
You'll love it if you liked
Notes From Underground
Crime and Punishment
The MetamorphosisGood to know
It's very short, about 80 pages.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Uplifting, Moving
More by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers KaramazovCrime and Punishment
Demons
The IdiotIf you like this, read next
Lonesome Dove
Pride and Prejudice
Sophie's Choice
Rebecca
The Thorn Birds
From Here to EternityExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is White Nights worth reading?
Yes. It's one of Dostoevsky's most beloved short works, and a perfect introduction to him. It ranks #2,156 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is White Nights about?
In the melancholy beauty of St. Petersburg, a lonely dreamer has a fleeting, heartfelt encounter with a young woman, Nastenka. Dostoevsky's short tale captures the fragility of hope and the quiet devastation of unrequited love.
How long does it take to read White Nights?
About 4 hours (160 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after White Nights?
If you liked it, try Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky or The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.