2007-12-26 Timeless classic - shame about the translation

This is the story of two young men Arkady and Bazarov as they travel between the ciy, the houses of their parents, and the house of the beautiful widow Odintsova. During their journeythey quarrel with parents, fall in love and explore ideas of nihilism, feudalism and impending revolution.

What makes the novel great are the characters, real recognisable human types. Nikolai Petrovich, the good but incomptetent man, Pavel Petrovich embittered by lost youth, Odintsova, the intelligent woman trapped in a patriarchal society, Barazov the tortured but charismatic "angry young man". The real character of genius is however Arkady. Here we have a totally convincing portrait of a follower. He is enthralled by Barazov, imagines himself in love with Odintsova, and seeks to rebel against his parents, but all the time it is clear he will marry the more homely Katya and go into business with his father. As a portrait of inaccessible dreams and mundane reality it is both heart breaking and life affirming.

So all in allthoroughly recommended. That recommendation must however be for the novel. I found the transaltion, and particular the self conscious use of modern English terminology grating. It is a translation which will date more quickly that the novel.