Short Fiction · Character

Sasha

A violinist at the Gambrinus beer hall whose music and warmth draw in the establishment's drifting regulars and give the place its soul.

major

Also known as Sasha I Gambrinous, Gambrinous

First appearance: the river of life

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

Sashka Strahlmann, the assistant Crown-Prosecutor, is present as a companion known for storytelling and imitations.

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Sasha plays violin at the Gambrinus, a beer hall where lonely men, students, and misfits gather, and his playing becomes the emotional center of their evenings. He is generous and open-hearted, pouring himself into his music and into the lives of those around him, yet the gap between his art and his circumstances gives his cheerfulness a quiet ache. His presence shapes the story's world, turning a shabby drinking spot into a stage for the yearnings of everyone who passes through.

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See Sasha in the river of life

Character Web

11 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Musicians and Children
Officers and Society Women
Spies, Priests, and Performers
Historical and Professional Figures
Biblical and Romantic Figures

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

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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In the story

Sasha appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

IV
III
Sasha
I
II
III
IV
V
+4 more

IV
Sashka Strahlmann, the assistant Crown-Prosecutor, is present as a companion known for storytelling and imitations.
III
Nadya's father, who initially tries to satisfy her wish with a toy but then resolves to find a real elephant.
Sasha
Central figure of the chapter, depicted with depth and mystery.
I
A gentle, merry, bald Jewish violinist who plays nightly at Gambrinous', accompanied by his little white dog Bielotchka.
II
The celebrated violinist of Gambrinous', known for his monkey-like face and ability to play any tune, from melancholy Jewish melodies to rowdy marches, captivating the diverse clientele.
III
Central figure of the chapter; plays violin for diverse crowds, mediates disputes, and is beloved by patrons for his talent and generosity.
IV
The fiddler, conscripted at 46, bids farewell with grief and clowning.
V
Returns after two years as a prisoner of war; plays fiddle and fife; appears unchanged but with a deeper expression of awe and distress.
VI
Sasha plays sailor songs at Gambrinous' as usual, but later faces the sub-inspector's ban on anthems. He walks freely through the pogrom, protected by his courage, but is horrified when his dog Bielotchka is killed.
VII
Defies the police-agent Motka Gundoss by refusing to play the national anthem, strikes him with his fiddle, and is subsequently arrested.
VIII
Returns to Gambrinous after three months, now with a full-grown beard and a crippled left hand, but still able to play music with a small instrument.
II
The narrator's fellow traveler who first helps the old musician stand up.

Chapter companion notes

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See Sasha in the river of life

See Sasha in IV