Poor Liza by Nikolay Karamzin

The narrative revolves around a tragic love story between Liza, a simple and innocent Russian peasant girl, and Erast, a nobleman with fickle affections. Liza falls deeply in love with Erast, who initially reciprocates her feelings but eventually abandons her for a life in the city and the pursuit of wealth and social status. Liza, heartbroken and unable to reconcile with her loss, ultimately drowns herself in despair. The story serves as a poignant exploration of the societal divide between the peasantry and the nobility, the destructive power of unrequited love, and the clash between traditional rural life and the encroaching influence of modernity.

The 3725th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 103

Since this book was first published in 1792, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 103.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.