Turgenev's Famous Novel...

Fathers And Sons is one of my favorite Russian novels, and this lesser known work, First Love, now becomes another of my top-ranking volumes of east European literature. Like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, Turgenev is the literary precursor of the psychologist, teasing out the inner thoughts and motivations of his characters, painting them in umber scenes, often melancholy and reflecting on the past. First Love is about remembrance, hope, regret, and the full oeuvre of human emotion, a moving and compelling work of art.

16 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Passion is stronger than logic

Any additional comments?

The final image of the novel, of the old lady in rags and dying on a hard floor with a sack under her head as she fights to stay alive despite a lifetime of misery gives the novel a greater perspective than just a young man sadly in love with a woman he won't have. The novel speaks to a greater need for people to live, at all costs and at any price, no matter the amount of pain it inflicts.

I have to admit to not feeling as close to Vladimir as I would have liked. Not because I didn't share any of his experiences - what young man hasn't - but there was a strange formality in him that seemed at odds with his age. I understand he was well bred and that his manners contrast beautifully with the situation of his love, but even when he was most mad, in the garden at midnight, I never really felt like I was with him. Had this been a slightly more modern novel - say written in the 1910's or 20's - there might have been a needed sexual undercurrent that is sorely missing here. I can't blame Turgenev since we have to consider when the novel was written, but still it's an element of human nature that is important.

Zinaida, however, though we never get the novel from her point of view, I felt much closer to. Her character is the real strength of the novel because we learn so much about her through her actions and the actions of everyone around her. She is a flirt, she is manipulative, she is poor (having once been wealthy), but she is not a bad person. In fact I felt more empathy to her than I did towards Tolstoy's Anna - they were similar women, but Zinaida felt more ... within reach. She wanted to be in love, not just be loved. And who doesn't want that? All her suitors were dolts, except for the one man who did have her.

I liked the image of his father's horse, the near wild Electric. This mirrored the father quite poetically and gave substance to his feelings in a way we could understand.

All-in-all this is a very sad novel, but it does speak to how we struggle in life to live and how imperfect we are. Yes we may know the right things to do, but passion is almost always stronger than logic.

7 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Near perfection.

Among the great 19th century Russian novelists, Turgenev is counted among the greatest but nevertheless seems to find himself in the shadows of the Titans, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, perhaps because Turgenev's works are shorter by comparison. But his novella , "First Love," is the equal of any piece of fiction ever written. I can't say too much more in detail or I'll give away the ending--which is absolutely electrifying. And, accompanying this superb work of fiction, the book is narrated by a no less superb reader, David Troughten.

6 persone l'hanno trovata utile

For lovers of great Russian lit

Deftly performed story of a young man’s first love in the beautiful words of Ivan Turgenev. This was a perfect shortish listen on one of those sleepless nights, and now I’m looking for more Turgenev on Audible.

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

A Meditation on (not a Celebration of) Youth

As another reviewer has noted, Turgenev is overshadowed by Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy. But having read almost everything those two wrote – and preferring Dostoyevsky’s Orthodoxy to Tolstoy’s self-created faith and silly theories of history – I took to Turgenev at once.

A story of youth, it is meant for those of us who have been there, got the t-shirt, and long ago saw it fall apart in the wash. Like Dostoyevsky, this is a story of furtive immorality told from a sane, deeply moral point of view. The triumph here is not that our middle-aged narrator lived his youth to the fullest, but that he survived it to tell the tale. And David Troughton’s sensitive (but not sentimental) performance could simply not be improved upon.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

5 Star Reading of this Poignant Classic

The ecstasies and sorrows of the youthful first love is a well trodden theme in literature, but this is the finest treatment of the theme I’ve come across. The narration is pitch perfect too. Highly recommended.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

First Ivan Turgenev I’ve read

And after enjoying this short one - both his writing and the narration, I will be listening to the longer Fathers & Sons next.

Stirs Beating Heart

A soft and nuanced painting of a first love, then contrasted with the realities of human nature.

Odd and sad…?

I hoped to really enjoy this, but I was left puzzled and sad. The story was interesting, well written and great reader. But the story itself was odd to me…

Beautiful story!

Beautiful story and classically charming. Very well narrated! Loved how the narrator brought all the characters to life.