Rudin follows the story of Dmitry Rudin who is a powerful orator. He passionately speaks about his beliefs about progress causing many to believe him. Natalya, a young member of the salon Rudin orates in, falls in love with him. She challenges him to take action on his words, but Rudin fails her. The book was first published in Sovremennik, a Russian magazine, in serial form in 1856. Rudin follows themes such as the power of words, ineffectiveness, and truth.
The character of Rudin is said to be based on the revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin (1814-1876). Bakunin was a Russian anarchist and political writer.
Fathers and Sons (1862)
Fathers and Sons explores the differences between generations. These differences cause conflicts between the older more traditional generation and the younger more intellectual and progressive generation. Arkady Kirsanov has just returned to his father's estate in the provinces of Russia with his friend Bazarov. Arkady conflicts with his uncle Pavel who disagrees with Arkady's new philosophy of Nihilism. Further conflicts form when Arkady has Fenichka, the servant move in with him and their son. The book contains themes of filial love, generational conflict, and familial obligation.
Torrents of Spring (1872)
Torrents of Spring focuses on Dmitry Sanin, who is a young Russian landowner. He falls madly in love with a young Italian woman named Gemma while visiting the city of Frankfurt. Torrents of Spring explores the theme of loss of innocence in love and the dangers of obsessive passions. It is considered to be highly biographical and based on Turgenev's own experience with a woman in Frankfurt.
Short stories by Ivan Turgenev
As well as writing many great books, Turgenev was also known for his short stories.
A Sportsman's Sketches (1852)
A Sportsman's Sketches contains 25 short stories that are based on Turgenev's observations while at Spasskoya, a hunting lodge. The short stories explore the abuses and injustices many peasants faced under Russia's serfdom system. The stories first appeared separately in Sovremennik, but were then sold in book form after they received high appraise, especially the story "Khor and Kalinich". The book of short stories was not popular with the Tsar, and Turgenev was placed under house arrest for publishing them.
Mumu (1854)
"Mumu" is a short story that follows Gerasim, a hard-working deaf-mute peasant, and the love for his dog, Mumu, who he finds after Tatyana, a laundress he has fallen in love with, runs off with Kapiton, the drunk shoemaker. Tatyana comes back and wants Mumu for herself, and when Mumu takes a dislike for Tatyana she orders the dog to be drowned. The short story follows themes such as the hard life of Russian peasants, love and loyalty, and bravery.
Quotes by Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev
Below are some quotes from the books and short stories written by Ivan Turgenev.
Words indeed have been my ruin; they have consumed me, and to the end, I cannot be free of them. But what I have said was not mere words" (Rudin, Epilogue).
In this quote from Turgenev's Rudin, the theme of words and their power is seen. Rudin is a passionate orator but never truly puts those words into action. In this quote, he tries to defend that despite his words being ineffectual, they were not for nothing.
But it was not Gemma’s voice—it was herself Sanin was admiring. He was sitting a little behind and on one side of her, and kept thinking to himself that no palm-tree, even in the poems of Benediktov—the poet in fashion in those days—could rival the slender grace of her figure" (Torrents of Spring, Chapter 6).
In this quote from Turgenev's Torrents of Spring, we see the protagonist falling in love with the appearance of Gemma. It shows that obsessive love which can ruin a man can sometimes be based on the romanticized appearance of the woman rather than her thoughts or mind.
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