Poor Liza

Brief Overview

«Poor Liza» is a novella by Nikolai Karamzin that tells the tragic love story between a peasant girl named Liza and a nobleman named Erast. Liza lives with her mother in poverty after her father's death. One day, she meets Erast, who falls in love with her. They begin to meet secretly, and Liza gives herself to him, believing his promises of marriage. However, Erast soon loses interest in Liza and leaves for the city, where he marries a wealthy widow. Upon learning this, Liza, in despair, throws herself into a pond and drowns. Erast, upon hearing of her death, is consumed by guilt but can do nothing to change the past.