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Title: Fathers and Sons (Norton Critical Edition) by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, Michael R. Katz ISBN: 0-393-96752-2 Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: 01 December, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.40 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.44 (50 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A fascinating look at Russian nihilism
Comment: This book is an interesting look at Russia in a time of change. Nihilism was gaining favor, the serfs had been emancipated, and the old way of life had begun to die. In this work, Turgenev explores the nature of the conflict between old, traditional values of class and custom and the new way of thinking. The title, Fathers and Sons, is aptly named, for this novel examines the gap between two generations' way of thinking. On the one side, the sons represent a new way of thinking called nihilism. Bazarov, the main character in the nihilist camp, represents the new generation of thinkers, those who accept nothing on authority and question everything. He influences a young man named Arkady, who becomes a sort of disciple of his. On the other side, Nikolai and Pavel, Arkady's father and uncle, respectively, represent "Old Russia." Nikolai is a landowner and, though he has emancipated his peasants and tries to be progressive, is stuck in the past. Pavel is the extreme traditionalist, representing everything that Russia was at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Turgenev uses these characters to explore the strengths and weaknesses of each way of thinking. The book seems to make the statement that the old way of life is inadequate and needs to be replaced, though he does not provide a solution. At any rate, Turgenev does not seem confident that nihilism can provide the necessary change. In the end, Arkady drifts away from Bazarov's influence, and becomes a sort of compromise between Bazarov's way of thinking and Nikolai's, and in this there is, it seems, at least a partial solution. Though he does not propose to solve the problems he points out in this novel, Turgenev sheds some interesting light on the subject of nihilism vs. traditionalism at a time of social upheaval in Russia.
Rating: 4
Summary: A Plotless Classic
Comment: This was required reading for my Russian literature class because it is considered a classic. My favorite part of this book is the fact that it gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the average nobleman of the day...(in the 1850's) It has some interesting descriptions of Russian family life, the life of the peasantry and how the younger generation interacted with the older generation (hence the title, "Fathers and Sons" although the original Russian is called "Fathers and Children"). One of the main characters, Bazarov, is a self proclaimed nihilist who rejects all forms of authority, causing problems for the older generations (his parents & his friend's parents), but attracting the attention of the people of his (the younger) generation. This book has no real plot...it is merely the story of how one man brings his nihilist ideas into other peoples' lives & it gives accounts of everybody else's reactions to these nihilist ideas. It is an interesting book & a pretty quick read, but it can drag in places...especially if the reader is waiting for something interesting to happen. All in all, I believe this book is worth reading, if just to get a taste of "Old Russia", but if you are looking for an exciting "can't-put-it-down-sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat-page-turner", you won't find it in this book.
Rating: 5
Summary: There are feelings. Everything depends on them.
Comment: This is such a wonderful novel about two young men returning home from University - Arkady Kirsanov and his friend, Yevgeny who is known mostly as Basarov. Firstly they stop at Arkady's father's poor farm - but he is a landowner. Arkady's father's name is Nikolai and living with him is his brother Pavel. What contrasts we immediately meet - Nikolai whose wife has died (Arkady's mother) but who is living with one of the local peasant women (Fenitchka) and has a son by her, and Pavel whose playboy life collapsed when the princess he hoped to marry rejected him.
So here we have two young men with all the potential of their living beings contrasted with Nikolai and Pavel and their strange life outcomes. What complicates the matter is that Basarov is a nihilist - someone called him the first 'angry young man'. He is cynical and argumentative - prepared to accept Nikolai's simple innocence and honesty in living, unprepared to tolerate Pavel's Anglophile airs and graces.
The young men move on to Basarov's parent's place (simple folk living a traditional old age) but on the way meet Madame Odintsova - quickly called Odintsov (presumably because she is widowed). They spend some time with Odintsov and we learn her name is Anna Sergyevna. Anna lives with her younger sister Katya and and older aunt. The contrasts are once again evident. Anna has no feeling for Arkady at all and quickly Arkady and Katya become friends as Anna and Basarov fascinate each other. But Basarov is appalled at his romantic feelings - not what he expects a nihilist should experience! And when Odintsov's flirting causes him to express that love he has to flee to his parent's place horrified by what he has felt.
But he is no more at home with his parents whose love and affection overwhelms him, so the young men return to the Kirsanov's farm, stopping briefly at Odintsov's country residence where they are not really welcomed. However Arkady, home again, is ill at ease and has to return to Odintsov, leaving Basarov behind. What happens at Odintsov's residence is perhaps not unexpected, what happens at the Kirsanov's farm - with Fenitchka and Pavel is remarkable. Eventually Basarov joins Arkady at Madame Odintsov's before returning home. The outcomes I will leave to Turgenev.
As a mid-fifties person myself I can readily identify with Nikolai and Pavel who see themselves as old, although they too are only fiftyish. But we all have memories and I can see myself as Basarov and Arkady - in some ways each of them, but in no ways entirely either of them. While, as a young man, I too had ideals (anarchist rather than nihilist) that I used to obscure other things in my life, subsequent experiences in my life have lead me to regret that path my life took for a while. Turgenev's outcome for Basarov is entirely in accord with my view. But what then of Pavel?
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing for me about this beautiful novel is that at the end - but not during the novel - I loved each and every one of the characters. The title of this review is a quote (p203 Konemann edition) and it is my feelings that are immensely positive from reading this book.
Other recommended reading:
For a non-Russian view of Russian people read 'Under Western Eyes' by Joseph Conrad
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Title: Dead Souls : A Novel (Vintage Classics) by NIKOLAI GOGOL ISBN: 0679776443 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 25 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Crime and Punishment (Crime & Punishment) by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett ISBN: 0553211757 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 June, 1984 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: A Hero of Our Time (Everyman's Library) by MIKHAIL LERMONTOV ISBN: 0679413278 Publisher: Everyman's Library Pub. Date: 30 June, 1992 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Anna Karenina (Modern Library Classics) by Leo Tolstoy, Mona Simpson ISBN: 067978330X Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 10 October, 2000 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Sketches from a Hunter's Album (Penguin Classics) by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, Richard Freeborn ISBN: 0140445226 Publisher: Penguin Books Pub. Date: 01 December, 1990 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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