The dark

"The Dark" by Leonid Andreyev is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around a young radical named Alexis, who is deeply tangled in a web of political insurgency and existential despair. As he prepares for a pivotal act of terrorism, we see his mental and emotional struggles unfold against the backdrop of a brooding, dark atmosphere. The beginning of the novel introduces Alexis as he grapples with exhaustion and imminent danger from the police, who are closing in on him. Desperate for rest before executing a significant plan, he decides to enter a brothel—an unfamiliar territory for him. There, he encounters Liuba, a young prostitute who, despite her profession, stirs feelings of compassion and conflict within him. As their interaction progresses, it becomes evident that both characters are in search of understanding and connection amid despair, inviting readers to explore deeper themes of human experience, sacrifice, and moral ambiguity as the narrative unfolds. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Leonid Nikolaievich Andreyev was a Russian playwright, novelist and short-story writer, who is considered to be a father of Expressionism in Russian literature. He is regarded as one of the most talented and prolific representatives of the Silver Age literary period. Andreyev's style combines the elements of realist, naturalist, and symbolist schools in literature. Of his 25 plays, his 1915 play He Who Gets Slapped is regarded as his finest achievement.