Fathers & Sons

Something to Treasure

By Ivan Turgenev
Translated By C.J. Hogarth
Russian, 1862
Realism, Philosophical, Coming of Age

Main Attractions


Turgenev C.J. Hogarth Translation
1.  Seeps into the Reader
2.  Mellow & Strong Passages
3.  Artistic Archetypal Characters
4.  Harmonious Threads
5.  Philosophical Dialogues
6.  Monologue Point of View
7.  Reveals Various Relationships
8.  Simply Great Storytelling
9.  Both Slow & Quick Pacing!
10.  Incredible Variety of Allusions


Postcard

I must make a postcard video for this one! Astounding quotes & images to be found.

Cuisine & Delicacies

Ranked as: Dessert Bar
This one could also be a Mystery Meat because of all the peaceful thinking I'm left with.  I have to go with dessert bar because of the fairy tale feel of this book.  It's a cozy story told by a family member.  It also has very deep meanings under the surface that can stay with you for years to come.

Why Visit Here

It can be read as just a story about father-son relationships.  Or simply to explore how times change.  It can also reveal the much deeper messages in these universal themes.  For these rich themes, I highly recommend this great work of emotional genius.  

The Literary Conversation:

These 3 books were written in reply to each other:
✓ Fathers and Sons By Ivan Turgenev (1862) - It started it all with a powerful story about tensions between generations & social change, introducing Nihilism.
✓ What is to Be Done By Nikolai Chernyshevsky (1863) — He added a Feminist spin and political/economic themes to the dialogue, introducing some idealist solutions.
✓ Notes from the Underground By Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864) - He took the idea of Nihilism and ran with it, crushing any idealist notions with practicalities of social conventions or poverty.

Destination Summary

Very simply, the father is waiting for his son to come home from school.   The son arrives with his nihilist friend.  There are many interesting discussions about life; traditions, social change, ways of living, falling in love and all types of relationships.  There is a lot going on without any confusion.  I’m sure some chapters will touch various people differently.

Off the Beaten Path

This video gives a good, short introduction for the “Emancipation of Russia’s Serfs”  which is the historical context of Fathers and Sons.


This is a professionally produced video, at 5 minutes in, they begin a detailed overview all of Russia during the emancipation, complete with maps.


Packing List

✓ Highlighter for Numerous Great Quotes
✓ A Planned trip to the Countryside for R & R
✓ A Cozy Chair for Reflective Thinking 

Recommended Resources
Alternate Books
✓ Eugene Onegin By Alexander Pushkin (1833) - Also a slow, countryside story about relationships
The Master and Margarita By Mikhail Bulgakov (1966) - Bazarov reminds me so much of Behemoth
✓ Uncle Vanya or The Cherry Orchid or any short work By Anton Chekov (c.1897-1904) - He weaves in many themes into a few words

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