The novella is a prose genre situated between the short story and the novel, characterized by a limited plot but broad spiritual and moral content. It expresses reality through human psyche, emotions, and internal conflicts. This study examines the formation and development of the novella in Russian and Uzbek literature, highlighting its stylistic and poetic features, as well as its evolution within realist and psychological frameworks. Using the works of L. N. Tolstoy, F. M. Dostoevsky, Shukur Xolmirzaev, and Khurshid Do‘stmuhammad as case studies, the paper demonstrates the genre’s significance in representing human consciousness, moral dilemmas, and social relations. Comparative analysis reveals shared features and national specificities, emphasizing the cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic roles of the novella.