The Landlady (Readings Classics)

Set in the shadowy quarters of Saint Petersburg, The Landlady is an eerie psychological novella that tells the story of Vasily Mikhailovich Ordynov, a solitary, contemplative scholar drawn into the tangled lives of his mysterious new landlords. He is fascinated by Katerina, the young, fragile wife of the ominous and domineering Murin who is rumored to possess mystical powers. As he unravels the strange bond between the couple, he becomes convinced Murin is a manipulative fortune-teller who holds Katerina in a trance of fear. Reality and delusion blur as Ordynov confronts the dark forces at play in a house that may be governed by something far more sinister than mere superstition. A haunting early work, The Landlady blends gothic tension with psychological depth, offering a gripping portrait of spiritual longing, moral confusion, and the treacherous power of love.