Horse Soup Summary
Vladimir Sorokin

Horse Soup Overview

In Vladimir Sorokin's short story "Horse Soup," Olya meets a man named Boris on the train who wants to pay her to let him watch her eat. Over the course of the next 14 years, Boris gives Olya monthly installments after each meal that she consumes in front of him. Once Olya grows tired of the ritual, she tries to give it up, unaware that doing so will have grave consequences. Written from the third person point of view, the short story explores themes including greed, deprivation, and control.