“Princess Zizi” Odoevsky in brief summary
To Princess Zizi in society are treated with prejudice. Her name was often repeated in the living room of my guardian. Aunt’s companion, a poor widow, Maria Ivanovna, told her story.
Princess Zizi lived with her mother and elder sister Lydia. The old princess was ill all the time, And the princess in letters to Masha constantly complained of boredom. In the summer we went to Simonov Monastery, and in the winter – even cry. One consolation was for the princess – to read books. She read all of Karamzin, read “Clarissa”, which her mother locked tightly in the cupboard, the entire “Messenger of Europe” … Most of all she liked the wonderful poems of Zhukovsky and Pushkin.
Meanwhile, the old princess happened to get acquainted with a young man, very pleasant and courteous. Vladimir Lukyanovich Gorodkov began to visit the house, even amused the princess, and she went with her daughters to the Gostiny Dvor. But then the princess again
Day by day, Zizi’s affection for Gorodkov grew. With a beating heart and with cold determination
It seemed that the very evening, quiet, serene, the last rays of the sun, illuminating the face of the princess, were open to frankness. Princess pondered over the words of the young man, over his confession. Probably, deep down she felt unhappy herself. Princess did not give a decisive answer, but promised in a few hours to send home a note to him. In less than half an hour, he received a letter with the consent and the wish to marry as soon as possible. Radetsky already wanted to lighten up a bit about the wedding, in order to marry tomorrow. But suddenly a new letter comes from the princess with apologies that she does not love him and can not become his wife. Radetsky immediately left. But he suspected that the princess’s decision was made not without the participation of Gorodkov, whom she worshiped, but he considered the evil genius of his lover. It was so. When the princess, pale and trembling, decided to announce Lydia and her husband that she was getting married, her sister laughed, and Gorodkov turned pale. After that, he came to Zinaida, as if to take care of her estate, her dowry. The princess started to refuse with all her heart… Gorodkov with effort said that it would be indecent that the princess herself would regret it… and then a new attachment would supplant the old ones… This was a hint at the warm relations between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. that she was getting married, her sister laughed, and Gorodkov turned pale. After that, he came to Zinaida, as if to take care of her estate, her dowry. The princess started to refuse with all her heart… Gorodkov with effort said that it would be indecent that the princess herself would regret it… and then a new attachment would supplant the old ones… This was a hint at the warm relations between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. that she was getting married, her sister laughed, and Gorodkov turned pale. After that, he came to Zinaida, as if to take care of her estate, her dowry. The princess started to refuse with all her heart… Gorodkov with effort said that it would be indecent that the princess herself would regret it… and then a new attachment would supplant the old ones… This was a hint at the warm relations between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. to take care of her estate, her dowry. The princess started to refuse with all her heart… Gorodkov with effort said that it would be indecent that the princess herself would regret it… and then a new attachment would supplant the old ones… This was a hint at the warm relations between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. to take care of her estate, her dowry. The princess started to refuse with all her heart… Gorodkov with effort said that it would be indecent that the princess herself would regret it… and then a new attachment would supplant the old ones… This was a hint at the warm relations between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. It was a hint of a warm relationship between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky. It was a hint of a warm relationship between Gorodkov and the princess, established recently. Gorodkov called her only friend, the real mother of Pashenka. To recall all this at the moment when she decided to marry, to leave this house, this man – the only one she loved – and had no right to love… All this was beyond her strength. The next day, she denied Radetsky.
But then a new incident required all the strength and courage of the princesses. Lydia was pregnant again. But she continued, despite the advice of doctors, to go to balls and dance. At last she fell ill. The doctors called a consultation. Lidia threw out, and her condition became very dangerous. She felt that she did not have much time left to live. Sometimes she asked Zinaida to become Gorodkov’s wife after her death. Sometimes she was jealous of her, and she accused her husband and Zinaida that they were just waiting for her death. At that time Maria Ivanovna in Kazan learned something about Gorodkov’s secret intentions and the present situation of the estate of Zizi and Lidia. She sent her friend a script from Gorodkov’s letter, from which it follows that he sells the estate in parts, cheaply, if only to get cash in cash. He wants to get his,
Having learned about everything, the princess goes straight to the leader of the nobility with a letter. Then, when Gorodkov was not at home, together with the leader and two witnesses, she appeared in the room of the dying Lydia. Lydia signed a will in which the leader was appointed executor and guardian to help Vladimir Lukyanovich, and the children were moreover given Zinaida to her special care.
The inevitable happened – Lydia died. Gorodkov forced Zinaida to leave the house, then blackened in the eyes of others. When they read the will, he stated that his wife owed him more than worth the estate. He even produced loan letters, explaining that he did it only to save the estate for the children from the control of others… And again they all cried and sighed only about the insidiousness of Zinaida’s intriguer. The guardian reproached the princess for exposing him as a fool. But Zinaida knew exactly that her sister could not take money from her husband: Vladimir Lukyanovich had nothing to give her. But she had no proof. Even the letter that opened her eyes, she gave Gorodkov. The leader refused to do business. But Zinaida herself sued for lack of money borrowed letters Lydia. She saw that Gorodkov had connected with one immoral woman, which pulled money out of him and forced him to marry. For this process, money was needed, so she had to file a second request for the division of the estate. And finally the third – about the ruin made by Gorodkov on the estate. All means were exhausted, the princess had to swear publicly in the church in the truth of her testimony… But then Providence intervened again. Gorodkov was beaten by horses. After his death, the girl regained her rights over the estate and nurture her niece.
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