The Darling Summary

Kukin, an entrepreneur and owner of the Tivoli, marries the young Olga Semyonovna, who is known to her friends and neighbors as "darling." Olga is very supportive of the theater and the acts that Kukin brings in, although some are not popular and make no money. Kukin goes off to Moscow to recruit some new acts, but falls ill and dies while still there. Months later Olga meets one of her neighbors, Vassily Andreich Pustovalov, who owns a lumberyard. They eventually marry and she settles into a life with Vassily. After six years of marriage, Vassily falls ill and dies. Olga is very aggrieved but several months later begins seeing Vladimir Platonych, the veterinarian, who is separated from his wife. A relationship develops, but ends when Vladimir leaves for Siberia with his regiment. Olga is lonely and miserable and is unable...