AN ANONYMOUS STORY

An Anonymous Story

This is a real long story. I will just give some of my impressions.

Although full of ideas and life -- the story doesn't quite gel. Something is missing which elevates it to a great story. Is it that the narrator is distant -- dying -- hopeless -- wanting to live but seems to have lived his life in the past? I'm not sure. It's hard to put a finger on it -- but something is foggy -- not quite clear -- it affects you and you want to dive into it -- but it doesn't quite let you. Would love to get feedback from others -- did you feel something was missing in the story too?

Liked the part of the story where the narrator is a footman and we get a glimpse of what life was like for a servant in Russia in the late 19th century and which I'm sure hasn't changed much for a servant serving the rich anywhere in the world.

Liked the character of Zinaida Fyodorovna -- to an extent. You want to imagine -- she is beautiful and noble and a free spirit -- but the reality is probably very different. You sympathize with her plight -- but again -- one feels that she is elusive -- we never really know her -- maybe that's the point -- we see her as the footman sees her -- catching shadows of her but never fully her soul.

The characters of the officials are very well portrayed -- one also thinks that they share much in common with officials in many countries all over the world -- they get their privileges for a price -- a big price.

All in all, I would recommend reading this story -- just for the letter -- the letter that calls on all of us to rise up and live before it's too late.