This course traces the development of nineteenth-century imperial Russian prose with a focus on the so-called "Woman Question." Through the exploration of canonical and lesser-known writers and texts, we will examine how gender dynamics interact with a set of overarching themes such as tensions between the individual and society, the contrast between countryside and urban life, and the quest for national identity. Using a broad theoretical toolkit, we will learn to identify and critique gender-based stereotypes to unpack their ethical and aesthetic stakes. Analyzing the representation of female characters, students will scrutinize what it meant to write about women, and—more importantly—what it meant to be a woman writer.