Monday, March 24, 2025

Ivan Turgenev

 

Ivan Turgenev





(Novelist, Short Story Writer, Poet, and Popularizer of Russian Literature in the West)

 

Ivan Turgenev was a celebrated short story writer, novelist, and poet from Russia.

He was one of the leading writers who played a significant role in popularizing Russian literature in the West. He was the only Russian novelist of his time believed to have a European perspective. His novel Fathers and Sons was one of his most popular works; it is also considered one of the best novels of the 19th century. Both left- and right-wing segments of Russian politics distrusted Turgenev, as the left believed he was being too critical of young revolutionaries, while the right believed he was not critical enough. Most of his works portray a realistic version of Russian peasant life. He was able to bring much love and concern for his homeland, Russia, from the Western world through his writings. Turgenev was often considered shy, restrained, and soft-spoken by his contemporaries, despite being physically well-built with broad shoulders.

 

Also Known As: Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev

 

Died at Age: 64

 

Family:

Father: Sergei Nikolaevich Turgenev

 

Mother: Varvara Turgeneva

 

Siblings: Nikolay Turgenev, Sergei Turgenev

 

Children: Paulinette Turgeneva

 

Country of Birth: Russia

 

Died on: September 3, 1883

 

Place of Death: Bougival, France

 

Cause of Death: Abscess

 

Diseases and Disabilities: Liposarcoma

Key Facts

1. What is Ivan Turgenev known for?

Ivan Turgenev is known for being a prominent Russian novelist and playwright, particularly recognized for his works focusing on social issues and the human condition.

2. What are some of Ivan Turgenev's famous literary works?

Some of Ivan Turgenev's famous literary works include "Fathers and Sons," "A Month in the Country," "Rudin," and "On the Eve."

3. How did Ivan Turgenev's writing style influence Russian literature?

Ivan Turgenev's writing style, characterized by realism and psychological depth, had a significant impact on Russian literature, influencing future generations of writers and contributing to the development of the Russian novel.

4. What themes did Ivan Turgenev often explore in his works?

Ivan Turgenev often explored themes such as love, social class, generational conflict, and the complexities of human relationships in his literary works. 5. How did Ivan Turgenev's works contribute to the Russian literary canon?

Ivan Turgenev's works are considered essential contributions to the Russian literary canon due to their insightful depiction of society, vivid characterizations, and enduring relevance to contemporary readers.

Childhood and Early Life

Ivan Turgenev was born on November 9, 1818, to Sergei Nikolaevich Turgenev and Varvara Petrovna Turgeneva in Oryol, Russia. Sergei was a colonel in the Russian cavalry and belonged to the Turgenev family, which was part of the Tula aristocracy. His mother came from the wealthy Lutovinov family of the Oryol Governorate. He had two brothers, Nikolai and Sergei, and was the second son in the family.

After his formal education, Ivan Turgenev studied for a year at Moscow University. He then studied Classics, Russian Literature, and Philology at the University of St. Petersburg from 1834 to 1837.

He then moved to Germany, where he studied philosophy and history at the University of Berlin. He eventually returned to St. Petersburg, where he took his master's exam.

In 1841, he began his career in the Russian Civil Service, likely to fulfill his mother's wish to see him work in the government, and spent two years of his career in the Ministry of the Interior.

 

Works

Although Ivan Turgenev had written many poems and short stories in his early career, the first work that brought him fame was "A Sportsman's Sketches," a collection of short stories published in 1852. The stories were based on his observations of peasant life and nature during days spent hunting in the forests of his mother's estate in Spasskoye. When he was imprisoned for a month for writing an obituary for Nikolai Gogol, he wrote the famous short story ‘Mumu’ in 1854. This was a story about a deaf and mute peasant whose only source of happiness was his dog, Mumu, whom he was forced to drown under unfortunate circumstances.

Between 1853 and 1862, Ivan Turgenev wrote some of his best works, including ‘Rudin,’ which was published in 1856; ‘A Nest of the Gentry’ in 1859; ‘On the Eve’ in 1860; and ‘Fathers and Sons’ in 1862. Most of these books were based on his love for Pauline and also on his experiences with his mother, who was a strict authoritarian.

The story of ‘A Nest of the Gentry,’ which was published in 1858, was brimming with nostalgia and his love for the Russian countryside. The book also featured ‘Liza,’ which became one of One of the most memorable characters in Russian literature, along with Tolstoy's, is Natasha Rostova.

After Alexander II ascended the Russian throne, which led to a relaxation of the political climate, he wrote the novel On the Eve in 1860. The novel was about the Bulgarian revolutionary Insarov.

In 1862, Ivan Turgenev wrote the masterpiece Fathers and Sons, whose main character, Eugene Bazarov, is considered the "first Bolshevik" in Russian literature. The novel dealt with the constant conflicts between the older and younger generations, who had different perspectives on life.

His last book, entitled Virgin Soil, was published in 1877. The book attempted to do justice to the contemporary problems of Russian society.

Family and Personal Life

Ivan Turgenev never married. However, he did have some affairs with his family's servants. One of his affairs led to the birth of his illegitimate daughter, Paulinette.

He was also closely associated with the popular opera singer Pauline Garcia Viardot, with whom he had a platonic relationship. He also knew her husband and often traveled with the couple.

He did not have many friends. His closest literary friend was Gustave Flaubert, with whom he shared similar views. They both had an unprejudiced and pessimistic worldview.

Death and Legacy



During his later years, Ivan Turgenev's health began to deteriorate, and in January 1883, a malignant tumor was removed from his suprapubic region. However, the cancer had already reached his spinal cord, causing him intense pain during his final months.

He died on September 3, 1883, of a spinal abscess in Bougival, near Paris. His remains were brought to Russia, and he was buried in the Volkovo Cemetery in St. Petersburg. On his deathbed, he was visited by Tolstoy, to whom he said, “My friend, return to literature.” It was after this that Tolstoy wrote the popular works “The Death of Ivan Ilyich” and “The Kreutzer Sonata.”

Ivan Turgenev was a favorite of many writers of the next generation, including Henry James and Joseph Conrad, who held similar ideologies. He was also praised by Vladimir Nabokov, who was known for dismissing many authors as poor writers.

Other Facts about Ivan Turgenev

Ivan Turgenev had a passion for hunting and spent a significant amount of time in the countryside pursuing this hobby, which often inspired his writing.

Turgenev was known for his love of French culture and literature, and spent much of his life traveling between France and Russia, influencing his writing style and themes.

He had a close friendship with fellow writer Gustave Flaubert, with whom he exchanged ideas and critiques of each other's work.

Turgenev was an advocate for social reform and often used his writings to highlight the problems of serfdom and class inequality in Russia.

Despite his reputation as a serious writer, Turgenev had a lighthearted and humorous side, as evidenced by his witty letters and anecdotes shared among friends and colleagues.


Quotes by Ivan Turgenev
“Time flies sometimes like a bird, and sometimes it crawls like a snail. But a person's greatest happiness comes when he doesn't notice whether it's swift or slow.”
“Do you want to live in peace? Then befriend people, but live alone; don't undertake anything, don't grieve over anything. Do you want to live happily? Then begin by suffering.”
“Unfortunate children mature faster than happy children.”
“What I felt was so new and so sweet! I sat there, looking back a little, without moving, and only occasionally laughed quietly, remembering something, or shuddered at the thought that I was in love, that what I felt was love.”
“Death is an old story, and yet it's always new to someone.”
“Do you want to be fortunate? Learn to suffer, then.”
“Most people don't understand how the other party can blow their nose differently than they do.”
“It is sweet to be the sole source, the tyrannical and unappealable cause of another being's greatest joys and deepest despair.”
“Chess is as imperative a need as literature.”
“There are great mysteries in people's lives, and love is one of the most inaccessible.”

With affection,

Ruben

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