Mumu

Name: Mumu
Author: Ivan Turgenev

#47 in Literary fiction this month #15 in Short Stories this month

Mumu is a short story written by Ivan Turgenev in 1852 and first published in 1854.

Gerasim is a deaf serf who cannot speak who lives in poor conditions. His disability, coupled with his social position, causes him to suffer hardships on a daily basis. He, coming from the countryside, gets used to life in the city and his position, but in reality he has no other choice of work or housing.

His situation of poverty is further compounded when he rescues Mumu, a dog and the purest and most honest entity in the story. The story was praised for exposing the cruelties of Russian serfdom at a time when the subject received little public discussion.

This edition of Mumu is based on the English translation by Constance Garnett.

"IN one of the outlying streets of Moscow, in a gray house with white columns and a balcony, warped all askew, there was once living a lady, a widow, surrounded by a numerous household of serfs."

Why Read Mumu in 2026?

A mute man, a loyal dog, and a world built to ignore the gentle. “Mumu” is Turgenev’s quiet indictment of cruelty under serfdom—tender, devastating, and brief enough for one class.

Today's connection

The story compresses power, dependency, and conscience into domestic scenes anyone can picture. It is excellent for talking with students about obedience, resistance, and how societies normalize harm. Expect tears and real conversation; the simplicity is deliberate.