Fathers and Sons

Fathers And Sons

Bazarov scorns traditional Russian values, shocks respectable society and, for the young, represents the spirit of rebellion. His experiences, however, lead him to conclude that Russia has no practical use for revolutionaries. First published in 1861, this is a powerful picture of the clash between generations.

"My favorite novel is Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons, a 200-page ravishing knockout of a book that explains just about everything you need to know about families, love, heartache, religion, duels and the institution of serfdom in 19th-century Russia, not to mention advice on how to seduce your housekeeper's young daughter. In short, it's a Russian masterpiece, one written so beautifully and with such economy, that when you finish reading it you feel a little shaken and a little stirred."

(NPR.org - Gary Steyngart)