A Librarian and Her Books

This one is a choice for my reading challenge that’s a new-to-me classic. Not only had I never picked up one of his books before, but I’d been saying his name wrong all these years. Thank you narrator David Horovitch for setting me straight on that one. I will say, it sounds a lot better in real life than the version that was in my head.

Fathers and Sons was released in 1862 and was a bit controversial in Russia at the time, though it would gain great acclaim from other authors like Henry James for its importance as a reflection of the changes affecting Russian society at the time. In the novel, young nihilist Bazarov, a student with a particular affinity for science and an aversion to authority and tradition, goes to visit the family of his schoolmate, Arkady. The young man experiences particular friction with the uncle of his friend, a very traditional member of polite society. He also experiences friction upon returning to his own home to visit his parents. Turgenev set the novel in 1859 just prior to the emancipation of the serfs that would come in 1861. This is an important detail, as this topic presents a defining difference in the competing ideologies held by the two sets of fathers and sons. Turgenev presents these familial relationships in a way that echoes the competing ideologies of the Russian political landscape. Through the introduction of potential love interests, he also manages to weave in the politics of gender and relationships.

I won’t say this is an enjoyable read, but I can see why it’s considered a great classic novel due to the afore-mentioned socio-political aspects, as well as a pretty deep psychological streak. Honestly, the characters are extremely frustrating, especially Bazarov. I appreciate this radicalism, as progress has always been driven by the radicals with big ideas. However, his good ideas were clouded over by his arrogance, stubbornness, and complete inability to be open to other ideas. He was blind to his own prejudices, which seems to fly in the face of his own brand of progressiveness. I do feel that Turgenev effectively presented these separate dichotomies as well as the evolution of progress. It’s important to analyze how families navigated the changing political landscape. It was actually the older generation in the novel that seemed the most open to change, with the exception of Arkady who existed as sort of a mediator between the two opposing parties. He wasn’t quite as radical as his friend Bazarov, and this worked in his favor. He was still capable of critical thinking.

Frankly, today I feel like this is an important lesson we need in the United States. We are an absolute mess, and political differences between parents and children are driving intense divides, and many of the issues at play surround class structure, race relations, gender, and other issues also relevant in Turgenev’s time. These issues will always be relevant. However, it seems that the United States is going the opposite direction, away from progress and back toward more traditional ideas not very conducive to human rights. The parents seem to be more radical and the children more apathetic, which hopefully will change once they see the harm their parents ideas are doing to the political landscape.

The novel takes an interesting and very abrupt turn to the dramatic and utterly depressing near the end, which I found jarring and I wasn’t quite sure what to think. Considering my conflicting feelings about the characters, it was difficult to come to turns with these abrupt changes. It’s difficult to explain in further detail without spoiling the novel, so I’ll leave it at that. Overall, I would give this one 4 stars. I can’t say I enjoyed it but I definitely understand the novel’s importance that cements its place as one of the great volumes in world literature.

First published February 23, 1862 by Grachev & Co., Moscow, Russia. Edition published January 1, 2009 by Audible Audio. ASIN B0DM48N4SK. Runtime 9 hrs. 16 mins. Read by David Horovitch.