The Captain's Daughter (Pushkin)
Short summary
Russian Empire, early 1770s. Sixteen-year-old Pyotr Andreyevich Grinyov, the son of a retired officer, was sent by his father to serve in the remote fortress of Belogorsk. On his way, lost in a blizzard, he met a mysterious peasant who guided him to safety. In gratitude, Pyotr gave him a coat.
At Belogorsk, Pyotr befriended the fort's commander and fell in love with his daughter, Maria Ivanovna Mironova. An officer named Shvabrin, previously rejected by Maria, fought a duel with Pyotr and wounded him. During Pyotr's recovery Maria nursed him and confessed her mutual affection. Pyotr wrote to seek his father's blessing to marry her, but was sharply refused.
A rebellion led by Yemelyan Pugachov erupted, and Belogorsk fortress was overtaken. The captain and his wife were executed; Pyotr recognized Pugachov as the man he had once helped. Pugachov spared his life, and after Pyotr explained Maria Ivanovna's plight, Pugachov helped free her from Shvabrin, who had sided with the rebels and imprisoned her. Pugachov told Pyotr,
"So be it!" he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "When I hang a man, I hang him; when I pardon a man, I pardon him. Take your sweetheart, go with her where you will and God grant you love and concord!"
Pyotr sent Maria Ivanovna to safety with his parents and joined the government forces to suppress the rebellion, but he was falsely accused of treason due to gifts and favors given him by Pugachov. He faced imprisonment, yet Maria bravely appealed directly to Empress Catherine II, who examined the case herself and issued a pardon. Pyotr was freed, and he and Maria were happily wed.
Detailed Summary by Chapters
Chapter 1. A Sergeant of the Guards
Pyotr Andreyevich Grinyov began his memoir by recounting his early life. His father, Andrey Petrovich Grinyov, had served under Count Münnich and retired in 1717 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. The family lived on an estate in Simbirsk province, where Pyotr was the only surviving child of nine siblings.
Take care of your honor when you are young. My father, Andrey Petrovich Grinyov, served under Count Münnich in his youth and retired in '17—with the rank of lieutenant colonel. From then, he lived on his estate in the province of Simbirsk.
Through family connections, Pyotr was enrolled as a sergeant in the Semyonov regiment while still unborn. His education was entrusted to Savelich, his father's huntsman. At twelve, a French tutor named Beaupré was hired, but proved to be a poor influence. When his father discovered Pyotr and Beaupré's negligence—finding the tutor drunk and Pyotr making a kite from a map—Beaupré was dismissed.
At sixteen, Pyotr's father decided it was time for him to enter military service. Despite his mother's hopes for him to serve in Petersburg as a Guards officer, his father insisted he serve in the regular army to learn discipline. Pyotr was given a letter for Andrey Karlovich R., the general in Orenburg, and departed with Savelich.
Chapter 2. The Guide
En route to Orenburg, Pyotr stopped in Simbirsk where he met Captain Ivan Zurin, who introduced him to gambling. Pyotr lost a hundred rubles and had to ask Savelich for the money, causing the old servant great distress. They continued their journey the next day.
As they approached their destination, they were caught in a terrible blizzard. Lost and unable to see the road, they encountered a mysterious traveler who guided them to an inn. At the inn, Pyotr and the stranger conversed in a peculiar thieves' cant with the innkeeper. The stranger seemed familiar with the area despite the dangerous conditions.
The next morning, grateful for the stranger's help, Pyotr offered him a drink and then gave him his hare-skin coat when Savelich refused to give the man money. They parted ways, and Pyotr continued to Orenburg where he presented himself to General Andrey Karlovich, who assigned him to Fort Belogorsk, a remote outpost.
Chapter 3. The Fortress
Fort Belogorsk proved to be a disappointment—merely a small village surrounded by a wooden palisade, far from the imposing fortress Pyotr had imagined. Upon arrival, he met the elderly commandant, Ivan Kuzmich Mironov, who was drilling his ragtag garrison of soldiers. Pyotr was welcomed into the commandant's home, where he also met Mironov's wife, Vasilisa Yegorovna, and their daughter, Maria Ivanovna.
During dinner, Vasilisa Yegorovna spoke freely about their modest circumstances and her daughter's lack of dowry. Pyotr also met Lieutenant Shvabrin, another officer stationed at the fort who had been exiled there for killing a man in a duel. The one-eyed garrison lieutenant, Ivan Ignatich, completed the small circle of officers.
Chapter 4. The Duel
Pyotr settled into life at the fortress, received his commission, and became close to the Mironov family. He developed an interest in literature and wrote poetry, including a love poem about Maria. When he showed the poem to Shvabrin for critique, Shvabrin disparaged it and made insulting insinuations about Maria's character.
Outraged, Pyotr challenged Shvabrin to a duel. Despite Ivan Ignatich's attempts to dissuade them, they agreed to meet behind the fortress hayricks. The duel was interrupted by Ivan Ignatich and soldiers, who brought them before the commandant. Vasilisa Yegorovna scolded them severely, and they were forced to reconcile publicly.
Later, Maria revealed to Pyotr that Shvabrin had once proposed marriage to her, but she had refused him. The next day, Pyotr and Shvabrin met secretly to continue their duel. Shvabrin wounded Pyotr in the chest, and he lost consciousness as Savelich ran to his aid.
Chapter 5. Love
Pyotr recovered from his wound under the care of the Mironov family. During his convalescence, he and Maria fell in love. When he declared his feelings, she reciprocated but insisted they needed his parents' blessing. Pyotr wrote to his father asking for permission to marry Maria.
His father's reply was harsh—he refused his consent, criticized Pyotr for dueling, and announced his intention to have him transferred away from Fort Belogorsk. Distressed by this response, Pyotr confronted Savelich, believing he had informed his parents about the duel. Savelich proved his innocence by showing Pyotr a letter from his father that revealed Shvabrin as the likely informant.
Following this disappointment, Maria distanced herself from Pyotr to avoid causing him further trouble with his family. Pyotr fell into melancholy, but events soon took a dramatic turn that would change the course of their lives.
Chapter 6. The Pugachov Rebellion
In October 1773, the commandant received news of a rebellion led by Yemelyan Pugachov, a Cossack claiming to be the late Emperor Peter III. The fortress prepared for a possible attack, with the commandant gathering his officers to discuss defense strategies. Rumors of the rebellion spread throughout the fortress despite attempts at secrecy.
When a Bashkir carrying seditious papers was captured, the commandant attempted to interrogate him. The prisoner, however, had no tongue—it had been cut out during an earlier punishment. Soon after, news arrived that the nearby Lower Lake fortress had fallen to the rebels, who had executed its officers.
Concerned for Maria's safety, Pyotr suggested she be sent to Orenburg. The Mironovs agreed to send their daughter away the next morning. That night, Pyotr secretly met with Maria to say farewell, promising his eternal devotion to her.
Chapter 7. The Attack
The next morning, Pugachov's forces appeared outside the fortress. The commandant prepared for battle, while Maria, who had not yet departed, remained with her mother. Pugachov's men attacked, and despite the commandant's call for a counterattack, the garrison soldiers surrendered without resistance.
Pyotr, the commandant, and Ivan Ignatich were captured and brought before Pugachov in the town square. To Pyotr's shock, he recognized Pugachov as the traveler who had guided him during the blizzard—the man to whom he had given his coat. Pugachov ordered the execution of the commandant and Ivan Ignatich when they refused to recognize him as the tsar.
When Pyotr's turn came, Shvabrin, who had joined the rebels, whispered something to Pugachov. Pugachov ordered Pyotr's execution, but Savelich threw himself at Pugachov's feet, begging for mercy. Surprisingly, Pugachov spared Pyotr's life, though Pyotr refused to kiss the impostor's hand in allegiance.
The rebels then looted the commandant's house and dragged out Vasilisa Yegorovna. When she saw her husband's body hanging from the gallows, she berated the rebels. Pugachov ordered her silenced, and a Cossack killed her with his sword.
Chapter 8. An Uninvited Guest
After the executions, Pyotr searched frantically for Maria in the commandant's ransacked house. He found Palasha, the maid, who told him Maria was hiding at the priest's house. When Pyotr went there, he learned that Pugachov had dined at the priest's house but had not discovered Maria, who was concealed as the priest's sick niece.
That evening, Pyotr was summoned to meet Pugachov at the commandant's house. There, Pugachov was feasting with his followers. Recognizing Pyotr as the young officer who had given him the coat, Pugachov treated him with unexpected friendliness and invited him to join the celebration.
"Listen," said Pugachov with a kind of wild inspiration. "Let me tell you a tale... 'Rather than feed on dead flesh for three hundred years, I choose to drink one good drink of living blood—and then may God's will be done!'"
Later, in private conversation, Pugachov asked Pyotr to join his rebellion. Pyotr candidly refused, stating his oath to the Empress prevented him from serving Pugachov. Despite this refusal, Pugachov respected Pyotr's honesty and allowed him to go free.
"No," I replied firmly. "I was born a nobleman. I have sworn my allegiance to the Empress; I cannot serve you. If you truly wish me well, let me go to Orenburg."
Chapter 9. Parting
The next morning, Pyotr witnessed Pugachov's departure from the fortress. Before leaving, Pugachov appointed Shvabrin as the new commandant. Concerned for Maria's safety under Shvabrin's authority, Pyotr went to the priest's house to bid her farewell before departing for Orenburg.
At the priest's house, Pyotr found Maria recovering from her illness. He told her of his plan to seek help in Orenburg and promised to return for her. Maria visited her parents' graves before they departed. As they were leaving, a Cossack messenger from Pugachov brought Pyotr a horse and a sheepskin coat—gifts from the rebel leader.
Savelich, who had earlier presented Pugachov with an itemized list of Pyotr's stolen belongings (including the hare-skin coat), was surprised by this generosity. Pyotr accepted the gifts, and they continued their journey to Orenburg.
Chapter 10. The Siege
Upon reaching Orenburg, Pyotr found the city preparing for siege. He reported to the general and described his experiences with Pugachov. When a council of war was called to decide whether to take offensive or defensive action against the rebels, Pyotr advocated for an offensive approach, but the civilian officials convinced the general to remain behind the city walls.
Soon after, Pugachov's forces surrounded Orenburg. The siege dragged on for months, with food becoming scarce and conditions worsening. Pyotr participated in sorties against the rebels but grew increasingly anxious about Maria's fate at Fort Belogorsk under Shvabrin's control.
One day during a skirmish, Pyotr encountered the Cossack sergeant Maximich, who had joined Pugachov's forces. Maximich gave Pyotr a letter from Maria, revealing that Shvabrin was forcing her to marry him and threatening to denounce her to Pugachov if she refused. She begged Pyotr to rescue her.
Desperate to save Maria, Pyotr asked the general for permission to lead a rescue mission to Fort Belogorsk. The general refused, considering such an expedition too risky. Determined to help Maria, Pyotr formed a plan of his own.
Chapter 11. The Rebel Camp
Pyotr decided to go to Pugachov's camp at Berdy. He was captured by rebel sentries and brought before Pugachov and his lieutenants, including the cruel Beloborodov and the scarred convict Khlopusha. When questioned about his presence, Pyotr boldly stated he had come to seek justice for an orphan being mistreated—Maria Mironova.
Pugachov was angered to learn that Shvabrin was abusing his authority and vowed to punish him. Despite Beloborodov's suspicions about Pyotr's true motives, Pugachov decided to help. The next morning, Pugachov and Pyotr traveled together to Fort Belogorsk in a sleigh, with Savelich accompanying them.
"So you don't believe," he said, "that I am Tsar Pyotr Fyodorovich? Very well. But does not fortune favor the bold? Did not Grishka Otrepyev reign long ago? Think what you like about me, but stay by my side."
During their journey, Pugachov shared his philosophy through a Kalmyk fable about an eagle who chose a short life of freedom rather than a long life of eating carrion. Pyotr understood that Pugachov saw himself as the eagle, preferring a brief but glorious rebellion to a life of submission.
Chapter 12. The Orphan
Upon arriving at Fort Belogorsk, they were greeted by Shvabrin, who was surprised and alarmed to see Pyotr with Pugachov. When Pugachov asked to see the orphan girl Shvabrin was keeping, Shvabrin claimed she was his wife and ill in bed. Suspicious, Pugachov insisted on seeing her.
They found Maria locked in a room, dressed in rags and starving. Pugachov was furious at Shvabrin's deception and threatened to hang him. When Maria learned that Pugachov was the man who had executed her parents, she fainted. Pyotr explained that she was the daughter of Captain Mironov, and Pugachov, impressed by Pyotr's honesty, granted them both freedom.
Our lovely apple tree
Has no young shoots and no fine crown;
Our lovely bride
Has no dear father and no dear mother.
No one to dress her
In a wedding gown,
No one to bless her.
Before departing, Pyotr obtained a safe-conduct pass from Pugachov, signed by Shvabrin. They bid farewell to Father Gerasim and his wife, who had sheltered Maria, and left the fortress. Pyotr planned to take Maria to his parents' estate for safety.
Chapter 13. Arrest
On their journey, they encountered a detachment of Hussars commanded by Zurin, Pyotr's old acquaintance from Simbirsk. Zurin welcomed them warmly and provided quarters for Maria. He informed Pyotr that the rebellion was being suppressed, with government forces gaining the upper hand against Pugachov.
Zurin advised Pyotr to send Maria to his parents while he remained to serve in Zurin's regiment. Though reluctant to part from Maria, Pyotr agreed this was the wisest course. He entrusted Savelich to accompany Maria to his family's estate and wrote to his parents explaining the situation.
Pyotr joined Zurin's regiment and participated in the final stages of the campaign against Pugachov. News eventually came that Pugachov had been captured. As Pyotr prepared to rejoin his family and Maria, he received shocking news—he was to be arrested and sent to Kazan to face the Commission of Inquiry investigating the Pugachov rebellion.
I was certain that the reason for my arrest was my unauthorized absence from Orenburg. I would have no difficulty exonerating myself... But then my friendly relations with Pugachov could have been reported by many different witnesses.
Chapter 14. The Tribunal
In Kazan, Pyotr was imprisoned and then brought before a commission investigating the rebellion. He was accused of treason for his association with Pugachov. Pyotr explained truthfully how he had met Pugachov during the blizzard before the rebellion and how the rebel leader had spared his life at Fort Belogorsk out of gratitude for the coat.
The commission was skeptical, especially after reading a letter from the Orenburg commander stating that Pyotr had been absent from duty and was rumored to have visited Pugachov's camp. Then Shvabrin was brought in as a witness against Pyotr, accusing him of being Pugachov's spy and accomplice.
Pyotr could have explained his actions by revealing his mission to rescue Maria, but he refused to involve her name in the proceedings. His silence was taken as evidence of guilt, and he was sentenced to exile in Siberia.
Meanwhile, Maria had been warmly received by Pyotr's parents. When news of his arrest and sentence reached them, his father was devastated, believing his son had betrayed his oath as a nobleman.
"My son an accomplice of Pugachov's!" he kept repeating, beside himself with grief and fury. "The Empress reprieves him! Does that make it any easier to bear? It is not the scaffold that is so terrible... But for a nobleman to betray his oath of allegiance!"
Determined to save Pyotr, Maria traveled to Petersburg to seek an audience with the Empress. By chance, she met Catherine the Great walking in the gardens at Tsarskoye Selo, though she did not recognize her. Maria told her story to the sympathetic lady, who promised to help.
Later, Maria was summoned to the palace, where she discovered that the lady in the garden had been the Empress herself. Catherine, convinced of Pyotr's innocence, gave Maria a letter exonerating him and promised to arrange her dowry.
"I am convinced of the innocence of your betrothed. Here is a letter for you to deliver in person to your future father-in-law... I take it upon myself to arrange your dowry." After embracing her gently and affectionately, the Empress dismissed the poor orphan.
Pyotr was released from imprisonment and was present at Pugachov's execution in 1774. He married Maria, and they lived happily in Simbirsk province. The manuscript of his memoirs was preserved by his descendants, along with Catherine's letter exonerating him.
Omitted Chapter
In an omitted chapter from Pushkin's first draft, Pyotr described his experiences during the final stages of the Pugachov rebellion. While crossing the Volga at night, he encountered a macabre sight—a floating gallows with three executed rebels. One of them was a young man Pyotr had known.
Upon reaching his father's estate, Pyotr discovered that the local clerk had imprisoned his parents in the granary, intending to hand them over to Pugachov. Pyotr freed them and was overjoyed to find Maria there as well. As they reunited, Shvabrin arrived with a band of rebels. They set fire to the granary, but Zurin's Hussars arrived just in time to save the family and capture Shvabrin.