Reading the Classics #52: Ivan Turgenev

I’ve already had some experience in writing about Ivan Turgenev. When I did my research paper for class back in the Spring, he was one of the Russian authors I wrote about. So this shouldn’t be to hard for me to write. Ivan Turgenev was born in 1818 in Russia, and died in 1883 in France. He had somewhat of a difficult life. His genius wasn’t recognized in his lifetime, he had to help take care of his mother and siblings due to his father’s negligence, and was put under house arrest for a so-called “crime”. But her preserved through it all, and came out with an amazing novel called Fathers and Sons. Funny thing, whenever I think of that book it reminds me of the Cat Stevens song Fathers and Sons that was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. But that’s besides the point. The point of today’s post is to speak about Turgenev’s most popular book. 

1. Fathers and Sons 

First published in 1862, Fathers and Sons is a very interesting book to read. The novel takes place on an estate in one of Russia’s many provinces, and begins with a student fresh from university, Arkady Kirsanov, who arrives at his parent’s home, accompanied by his friend Bazarov. They are warmly welcomed by Arkady’s father and brother, but the situation changes rapidly when the two students begin explaining and advocating for a new philosophy known as Nihilism. Deriving its name from the Latin word nihil, meaning “nothing”, Nihilism was a philosophical movement that didn’t believe in life after death, and they didn’t feel the need to obey any authorities whatsoever. Those who believed in it saw it as rational thinking, and those who opposed it saw a destructive force that could end society. Thus, Arkady’s family were less than thrilled to hear of his and his friend’s new beliefs. Nikolay, the father, begins to feel that he failed his son by not teaching him properly and letting him get into those ideas, and Nikolay attempts to atone for his mistakes by being as kind as possible, and trying to spend more time with Arkady. I love this story for the philosophical battle that is the theme of it all, the clash of Christianity and Nihilism. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone. 

I know this was a shorter post today, but I haven’t read much of Ivan Turgenev. Our library only had Fathers and Sons, so I stopped there. Maybe since we’re moving I’ll find more at another library, or maybe find an online copy. I don’t know. I hope you enjoyed this post, though. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next time!

1835- Nevsky Prospect by Nikolai Gogol

          The Portrait by Nikolai Gogol

          Taras Bulba by Nikolai Gogol

1835-1836- The Nose by Nikolai Gogol

1842- Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol

          The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol

1862- Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

1869- War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

1877- Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

1886- The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

1912- Hadji Murad by Leo Tolstoy

1962- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn