01 - Diary of a Superfluous Man by Ivan Turgenev

Join the journey of Turgenevs enigmatic hero, Tchulkaturin, who embodies the quintessential Russian archetype, the superfluous man. This character is no prince, but a man of comfort living a monotonous life, aimlessly led by circumstances that threaten to consume him. This novella is structured as a diary, which Tchulkaturin begins writing after a terminal illness diagnosis. His entries, spanning a mere two weeks, encapsulate the countdown to his inevitable end. In these pages, Tchulkaturin rehashes the one meaningful event of his life - a one-sided love affair leading to a non-fatal duel that leaves him devastated and acutely aware of the emptiness of his passive existence. Narrated by Martin Geeson, this story is a profound exploration of purpose, love, and the human condition.