The Dark

The Dark is a novella by Russian author Leonid Nikolayevich Andreyev, an acclaimed Russian playwright and writer of short fiction, who was noted for the darkness in his work.

The Dark is a story about a desperate young man, a “terrorist and nihilist”, trying to avoid arrest by taking refuge in a brothel. The story focuses on his unfolding relationship with a prostitute in the brothel and the internal conflict which torments him.

The Dark was translated by Leonard A. Magnus and Karl Walter. The novella was originally published in 1922 by Leonard and Virginia Woolf. Audiobook read by Lee Smalley, running time 1 hour, 57 min. Unabridged full version. Also available as E-Book: ePUB, 18,300 words, average reading time 1 hours, 30 min.

Leonid Nikolaievich Andreyev (1871-1919) was a Russian playwright, novelist and short-story writer. He is one of the most talented and prolific representatives of the Silver Age period in Russian history. Andreyev's style combines elements of realist, naturalist and symbolist schools in literature.