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A BIOGRAPHY
193
fëtes, theaters, lectures, receptions, picnics, and other
pleasures.
The circle which now surrounded her was more
literary than scientific in its interests. With the
natural longing to be in full sympathy with her
surroundings which was one of Sonya’s strongest
sentiments, she now threw herself into literary pursuits.
She wrote newspaper articles, poetry, and theatrical
criticisms. But her writings were always anonymous.
She also wrote a novel entitled " The Privat-docent,"
a tale of a small German university town. It was
considered to show great promise.
Aniuta, who, during these years, lived in St.
Petersburg with her husband, now came definitely to the
fore as an authoress, and with much success; while
Vladimir Kovalévsky was busy translating and
publishing popular scientific works, such as " The Birds "
of Brehm.
The legacy left to Sönya by her father was small,
for he left the bulk of his fortune to his wife. But
the life into which Sönya had plunged demanded a
certain amount of luxury and style. Perhaps it was
this which first induced her to indulge in speculations.
Her husband, who was personally utterly indifferent
to luxury, allowed himself to be drawn into these
transactions, for he was of a lively, imaginative, and
also somewhat yielding nature.
Venture followed upon venture. The Kovalévskys
built many-storied houses, baths, and extensive
hothouses in St. Petersburg. They published newspapers,
launched new inventions of every kind, and for a time
it looked as though fortune would smile upon them.
Their friends prophesied a brilliant future; and in 1878,
when their first child, a daughter, was born, she was
hailed as a future heiress.
13
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