Poor Liza

"Poor Liza" is a 1792 short story or sentimental novella by the Russian author Nikolay Karamzin. It is one of Karamzin's best-known short stories in Russia, where it is part of the school curriculum. It is the tale of two lovers that belong to different social classes which in this case is a young nobleman and a poor peasant girl. The story popularized the sentimentalized peasant girl in 19th-century Russia. Summary Liza is a poor serf girl who lives with her elderly, sick mother. Her father died, making Liza the breadwinner of her family at age 15. One of Liza's primary ways of making money is to sell flowers she picked in Moscow. Two years later, while Liza is selling lily-of-the-valley flowers, she meets a handsome, rich man named Erast. They fall in love, and begin spending many nights together, next to the Simonov Monastery lake. At Erast's request, Liza keeps him a secret from her mother. What Liza does not know is that Erast, despite a good heart, is weak, fickle, and lecherous. Erast wants to have a pure love with Liza but finds his desire for her growing by the day.