Short Fiction · Character

Kostromsky

A fellow officer whose name lingers in Petersburg's newspaper saloons, part of the boozy, cynical world of reporters and hangers-on that Schavinsky moves through.

supporting

Also known as the astonished Kostromsky

First appearance: a slav soul

As a supporting figure in Short Fiction, Kostromsky is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as one of the celebrities of the Petersburg reporting world.

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Kostromsky belongs to the smoky, ink-stained milieu of 'The Glory of Petrograd,' where reporters drink, quarrel, and invent scandals about one another between deadlines. He is less a distinct actor than a fixture of that world — the kind of officer whose handshake is too violent and whose stories are too loud. His presence helps establish the raffish, morally blurred society Schavinsky navigates before the duel and intrigue begin.

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See Kostromsky in a slav soul

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Kostromsky sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Romantic
Other

Character groups

Officers and Society Women
Biblical and Romantic Figures

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because Vera Nikolayevna, who has previously dismissed Zheltkov’s love as…

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Relationships

Yureva
romantic · positive
Kostromsky is a suitor to Yureva, pursuing her with persistent romantic interest. How this plays out →
Yureva
romantic · positive
Kostromsky is a suitor to Yureva, pursuing her with persistent romantic interest. How this plays out →
Yureva
romantic · positive
Kostromsky is a suitor to Yureva, pursuing her with persistent romantic interest. How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Kostromsky in a slav soul

In the story

Kostromsky appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Mentioned as one of the celebrities of the Petersburg reporting world.
IV
The actor Zhenin-Lirsky (Kostromsky) entertains the group with a gipsy song and later leaves with a woman.
The Song and the Dance
Not directly present; the name is used in the context of the narrator's earlier thoughts about the intelligentsia, but no explicit appearance in this chapter.
Hamlet
The actor who performs the role of Hamlet, delivering a triumphant performance.
I
The famous actor preparing for Hamlet, grappling with his fading talent and alcoholism.
II
The famous actor, feeling a growing indifference to the stage, is forced to find a last-minute replacement for Ophelia.
III
The actor playing Hamlet, whose performance captivates the audience with its emotional depth and irony.
IV
Performs Hamlet; Yakovlef critiques his acting as that of a boy compared to Mochalof.
V
The aging actor whose performance as Hamlet fails to recapture past glory, leading to a painful realization of his decline.
VI
Drunkenly insults Yureva during the play, showing spite and cruelty.
VII
Watches Ophelia's performance with growing hatred, feeling his success is stolen; confronts Yureva backstage.
VIII
The once-great actor now drunkenly mourns his lost talent and fame, locking himself in his dressing room and later offering a heartfelt apology to Yureva.
A Legend
The tall, thin, long-haired violinist who plays a majestic, fairy tune that inspires the storytelling.
I
The young landowner from Simbir, recently married and appointed justice of the peace, known for his patriotic bluster and naive silliness.
IV
Mentioned indirectly as 'the astonished Kostromsky' in the context of Balunsky's memories, but not present in this chapter.

Chapter companion notes

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