Smoke

Summary

The novel "Smoke" by Ivan Turgenev tells the story of a Russian nobleman, Grigory Mikhailovich Litvinov, who returns to Russia after a long stay abroad. In the German spa town of Baden-Baden, he encounters his former love, Irina, now a married woman. This meeting stirs a storm of emotions and doubts in Litvinov, prompting him to reassess his life and future plans. Litvinov finds himself torn between a calm but dull life with his fiancée Tatyana and a passionate yet destructive love for Irina. Ultimately, he realizes that his feelings for Irina are merely smoke, an illusion, and returns to Tatyana, who symbolizes stability and reliability. The novel explores themes of love, duty, personal happiness, and societal changes in Russia.