Onegin & Tatiana
He refused love and regretted it forever
The jaded dandy Onegin spurns the love letter of young Tatiana; years later, when she is a married grande dame, he loves her desperately and is rejected in turn.
01Why it matters
Pushkin's novel in verse is the founding work of Russian literature; Tchaikovsky's opera made it universal.
02The conflict
World-weariness and pride that always arrive at the wrong time.
03The iconic moment
Tatiana's letter; the duel in which Onegin kills his friend Lensky.
04What survived
Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin"; Tchaikovsky's opera (1879).
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Onegin & Tatiana famous?
Pushkin's novel in verse is the founding work of Russian literature; Tchaikovsky's opera made it universal.
How does the story of Onegin & Tatiana end?
Tatiana's letter; the duel in which Onegin kills his friend Lensky. Pushkin's "Eugene Onegin"; Tchaikovsky's opera (1879).
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