The book follows the story of a kind-hearted and naive protagonist who returns to Russia from a Swiss sanatorium, where he was treated for a severe epileptic condition. Despite his pure intentions, he gets entangled in a web of love, greed, and manipulation, leading to tragic consequences. The novel explores themes of innocence, love, sacrifice, and societal expectations, offering a profound critique of Russian society during the 19th century.

"The Gift" is a novel that tells the story of Fyodor, a Russian émigré living in Berlin, who is struggling to establish himself as a writer. The book explores his life, love, and the process of writing, along with his relationships with his fellow Russian émigrés. The narrative also delves into Fyodor's admiration for his father, a renowned explorer who mysteriously disappeared on an expedition. The novel is a profound examination of the creative process, the expatriate experience, and the power of art.

"Summer in Baden-Baden" is a unique blend of fact and fiction that intertwines the author's own travels to Leningrad with a reimagining of Fyodor Dostoevsky's summer in Baden-Baden, Germany. The narrative shifts between the two journeys, exploring themes of obsession, identity, and the power of literature. The author's fascination with Dostoevsky serves as a lens through which he examines his own life and experiences as a Jew in Soviet Russia, while also providing a fresh perspective on the famous Russian author's life and works.

"Uncle Vanya" is a play that explores the themes of existential boredom and human folly through the story of an elderly professor and his young wife visiting their rural estate run by the professor's brother-in-law, Vanya, and daughter, Sonya. The visit disrupts the monotonous life of the estate, leading to emotional chaos, unrequited love, and a failed murder attempt. The play ends with the departure of the professor and his wife, leaving Vanya and Sonya to return to their life of drudgery, finding solace in the hope of a better life in the afterlife.

The novel centers around a Russian chess prodigy whose life becomes consumed by the game of chess. As he rises to international fame, his obsession with chess leads to a detachment from reality and a decline in his personal life. The protagonist's intense focus on chess strategies begins to invade his perception of the world, blurring the boundaries between the game and his own existence. This culminates in a psychological crisis during a critical championship match, where the line between his mental breakdown and a sophisticated defense strategy becomes indistinguishable, reflecting the protagonist's struggle to maintain his sanity amidst the all-consuming nature of his passion.