22/10/2023

Fathers and Sons - Ivan Toergenev 𓆏

When Arkady Kirsanov comes to stay at his father’s estate with a fellow student, it marks the beginning of a series of clashes and love stories. We meet characters from different generations, who become entangled due to their differing views of the world, surprisingly even when it comes to expressing emotions. A sentimental, romantic dandy stands in stark contrast to a cold-blooded, nihilistic medical student. With a contemporary perspective on this book, you’ll be surprised by the digressions on how men deal with their emotions. As the book draws to a close, the characters will begin to doubt their beliefs about expressing their feelings.

✷ Genre: classic Russian literature, realism

✷ Themes: family, generational differences, nihilism

✷ Recommended? Yes! Just like First Love, this is a good entry point into classic Russian literature. Be aware that the characters will follow you like a kind of romantic angel and nihilistic devil on your shoulders (if you don’t already have those yourself).