# Short Fiction — Chapters explained > Chapter companions for Short Fiction by Vladimir Korolenko. - [Short Fiction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/short-fiction.md): A collection of short fiction pieces exploring themes of human experience, nature, and social dynamics. - [Easter Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/easter-night.md): On Easter night in a provincial town, a young recruit named Faddéyef stands guard outside a prison. Inside, a delirious vagrant convict, seized by a desperate hope upon seeing an open door, attempts to escape. The recrui - [A Saghálinian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/a-sagh-linian.md): The narrator, alone in a yurt, struggles with isolation and homesickness as night falls. A vagrant named Vasíli arrives seeking shelter, and his tale of wandering and longing for freedom deeply stirs the narrator. The ne - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md): The narrator, alone in a yurt on a freezing night, reflects on his isolation and the oppressive silence. A stranger, Vasíli (Bagylá), arrives seeking warmth. The narrator observes Vasíli's proud yet troubled nature, susp - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md): The narrator sits with Vasíli, a Yakut horse handler, as they wait for the horse to cool before feeding. Vasíli reflects on the differences between Russia and the Yakut region, lamenting the harshness of life and his own > 180 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=short_fiction_54_se_1167kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest. - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [Sketches of a Siberian Tourist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/sketches-of-a-siberian-tourist.md) - [The Cormorants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i-the-cormorants.md) - [II: “The Hollow Below the Devil’s Finger”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii-the-hollow-below-the-devil-s-finger.md) - [III: “The Slayer”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-the-slayer.md) - [IV: A Voltairian of Siberia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv-a-voltairian-of-siberia.md) - [V: The Exterminator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v-the-exterminator.md) - [VI: Yevséyitch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi-yevs-yitch.md) - [VII: The Inspector](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii-the-inspector.md) - [VIII: “Iván, Aged Thirty-Eight Years”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii-iv-n-aged-thirty-eight-years.md) - [IX: The Investigation Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix-the-investigation-continued.md) - [The Blind Musician](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-blind-musician.md) - [The Blind Infant—The Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i-the-blind-infant-the-family.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [II: The Sources of Musical Feeling—The Blind Boy and the Melody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii-the-sources-of-musical-feeling-the-blind-boy-and-the-melody.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x.md) - [III: The First Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-the-first-friendship.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [IV: Blindness—Vague Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv-blindness-vague-questions.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [V: Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v-love.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [VI: The Crisis—An Attempt at Synthesis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi-the-crisis-an-attempt-at-synthesis.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII: Intuition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii-intuition.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/epilogue.md) - [In Two Moods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/in-two-moods.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x.md) - [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xi.md) - [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xii.md) - [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xiii.md) - [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xiv.md) - [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xv.md) - [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xvi.md) - [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xvii.md) - [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xviii.md) - [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xix.md) - [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xx.md) - [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xxi.md) - [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xxii.md) - [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xxiii.md) - [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xxiv.md) - [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xxv.md) - [The Shades, a Fantasy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-shades-a-fantasy.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [Lights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/lights.md) - [The Last Ray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-last-ray.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [The Old Bell-Ringer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-old-bell-ringer.md) - [Makar's Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/makar-s-dream.md) - [The Murmuring Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-murmuring-forest.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [In Bad Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/in-bad-company.md) - [I: The Ruins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i-the-ruins.md) - [II: Queer Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii-queer-characters.md) - [III: My Father and I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii-my-father-and-i.md) - [IV: I Make Some New Acquaintances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv-i-make-some-new-acquaintances.md) - [V: My Acquaintanceship Is Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v-my-acquaintanceship-is-continued.md) - [VI: Among the "Grey Stones"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi-among-the-grey-stones.md) - [VII: Tiburtsi Appears on the Scene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii-tiburtsi-appears-on-the-scene.md) - [VIII: Autumn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii-autumn.md) - [IX: The Doll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix-the-doll.md) - [X: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x-conclusion.md) - [The Day of Atonement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-day-of-atonement.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x.md) - [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/xi.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/x.md) - [Isn’t It Terrible?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/isn-t-it-terrible.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vii.md) - [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/viii.md) - [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ix.md) - [Necessity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/necessity.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/vi.md) - [On the Volga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/on-the-volga.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [The Village of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/the-village-of-god.md) - [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/i.md) - [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/ii.md) - [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iii.md) - [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/iv.md) - [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/v.md) - [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters/endnotes.md) HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_54_se/chapters