Le duel: roman

About this book

"Le duel : roman" by A. I. Kuprin is a novel published in 1905. Set in a provincial Russian infantry regiment, it follows young Sub-Lieutenant Romashov as his romantic, idealized worldview collides with the crude reality of military life. The story centers on a conflict between Romashov and a superior officer, exploring themes of honor, disillusionment, and the gap between cultivated ideals and harsh institutional truths. Considered Kuprin's most important work, the novel sparked intense controversy upon its release during the Russo-Japanese War.