The Daughter Of The Commandant Platanus Publishing

Pyotr Andreyich Grinyov (the narrative is conduc­ted on his behalf) is the only surviving child of a reti­red army officer. When Pyotr turns 17, his father sends him into military service in Orenburg. En route Pyotr gets lost in a blizzard, but is rescued by a mysterious man. As a to­ken of his gratitude, Pyotr gives the guide his hareskin coat. Arriving in Orenburg, Pyotr reports to his commanding offi­cer and is assigned to serve at Fort Belogorsky under captain Ivan Mironov. The fort is little more than a fence around a village, and the captain`s wife Vasilisa is really in charge. Pyotr befrien­ds his fellow officer Shvabrin, who has been banished here after a duel resulted in the death of his opponent. When Pyotr dines with the Mironov family, he meets their daughter Masha and fal­ls in love with her. This causes a rift between Pyotr and Shvab­rin, who has been turned down by Masha. When Shvabrin insults Masha`s honor, Pyotr and Shvabrin duel and Pyotr is injured. Pyotr asks his father`s consent to marry Masha, but is refused.