The Oaklings (Bunin)
Short summary
Russia, during the reign of Nicholas I. A 23-year-old cornet in the Guards visited his mother at their family estate in Ryazan while on leave. He became infatuated with Anfisa, the young wife of the village headman Lavr, who lived in a hut called "The Oaklings" on an abandoned country property.
The young man visited the couple daily under the pretext of discussing estate management. When Lavr mentioned he would be away overnight, Anfisa invited the narrator to visit her in his absence.
Despite a snowstorm, the narrator secretly left his mother's house and arrived at the hut. He found Anfisa dressed elegantly, with refreshments prepared. As they embraced passionately, they suddenly heard a horse outside. Lavr unexpectedly returned, claiming the weather had forced him back.
In the night, Lavr had hanged his wife with his green belt on an iron hook in a door lintel, and in the morning had gone to Petrovskoye and announced to the men: "Neighbours, I've had a calamity. My wife has hanged herself."
Lavr, understanding the situation, told the narrator to leave. The next morning, news came that Anfisa had been found hanged. Lavr claimed she had killed herself, but his face was scratched and his beard torn out. The villagers realized what had happened, and Lavr was flogged and sent to Siberian mines for his crime.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
Introduction of the young officer and the countryside estate
The story began with a young man of twenty-three years recounting events from his past during the reign of Nicholas I. He had just been promoted to the rank of cornet in the Guards and was granted two weeks' leave to visit his family estates in Ryazan. There, his mother lived alone since his father's death.
During his stay, he visited an empty country seat of his grandfather's in a village called Petrovskoye, near their own house. The estate was known as "The Oaklings" because several ancient oak trees grew at its entrance.
The narrators infatuation with Anfisa and his visits to The Oaklings
Beyond the oak trees stood an old crude hut, with some dilapidated outbuildings behind it, followed by the wastelands of a felled orchard covered in snow and the ruins of the manor house with empty window frames. In the hut lived the village headman, Lavr, and his wife Anfisa.
That empty country house called "The Oaklings", for at the entrance to it there grew several oak trees, in my time already ancient and mighty. Beneath those oaks stood an old crude hut, beyond the hut were some outbuildings, wrecked by time.
The narrator began visiting the hut almost daily, pretending to discuss estate management with Lavr while secretly casting mournful glances at Anfisa. She was taciturn, resembled a Spaniard more than a Russian house serf, and was almost half Lavr's age.
The young officer spent his days reading, playing the fortepiano, and singing languorously before heading to The Oaklings in the evening, regardless of the harsh winter weather. As Christmas passed and his return to duty approached, he informed Lavr and Anfisa of his imminent departure.
Anfisas invitation and the narrators anticipation
When Lavr stepped out of the hut, Anfisa suddenly lowered her sewing, watched her husband leave, and then turned to the narrator with passionate eyes. In a fervent whisper, she invited him to visit her the following evening when Lavr would be away in town overnight. She confessed that parting with him would be bitter for her.
"Master, he'll be leaving for town tomorrow and staying overnight – come here to me and while away the evening in farewell. I've held back, but now I'll say it: parting with you will be bitter for me."
Overwhelmed by her admission, the narrator could only nod in consent before Lavr returned. After this exchange, the young man could barely contain his impatience. He spent the night smoking, drinking rum, and dreaming of neglecting his career to remain in the countryside forever, perhaps even joining his fate with Anfisa's after Lavr's death.
The fateful evening encounter interrupted by Lavrs return
The following evening, a severe snowstorm raged outside. The narrator told his mother he was unwell and going to bed early. Once she retired to her room, he secretly ordered a sledge and set off for The Oaklings.
Upon arriving, he found Anfisa waiting for him, dressed up in a lilac silk sarafan and calico blouse with loose sleeves, wearing a coral necklace and silver earrings. Her jet-black hair was brushed smooth and parted in the middle. The table was set with refreshments - plates of nuts and mint sweets, a bottle of fruit liqueur, and two glasses.
Anfisa greeted him passionately, removing his snow-covered hat and coat, then embracing him. When he asked why she had waited until their parting to reveal her feelings, she explained that she feared her husband's jealousy and violence.
We're silent, sitting rooted to the spot in the most terrible embarrassment, we understand that he'd understood everything at once, she doesn't raise her eyelashes, I look up at him occasionally... I must confess, he was picturesque!
Suddenly, Anfisa heard a horse neigh outside and realized Lavr had returned. She quickly composed herself and pretended to be offering the narrator some liqueur before his departure. Lavr entered, covered in snow, and immediately understood the situation. He calmly removed his outer garments, wiped his face and beard, and began speaking unhurriedly about his journey.
The narrator and Anfisa sat in terrible embarrassment, aware that Lavr had understood everything. After a while, Lavr told the narrator it was time for him to leave, mentioning that he needed to have a talk with his wife. Without a word, the narrator departed.
Lavrs crime and punishment
The next morning, a rider arrived from Petrovskoye with terrible news. During the night, Lavr had hanged his wife with his green belt on an iron hook in a door lintel. In the morning, he had gone to the village and announced to the men that Anfisa had committed suicide, claiming he had found her hanging, dressed up and rouged.
However, the villagers noticed that Lavr's beard had been torn out in tufts, his face was slashed by claws, and his eye was bleeding. They realized Anfisa had fought for her life and Lavr had murdered her. The villagers tied him up, and he was subsequently beaten with lashes and sent to Siberia to work in the mines.