"A House of Gentlefolk" by Ivan Turgenev is a quintessential piece of Russian literature, emblematic of the 19th-century Russian society. Combining elements of Romanticism and psychological realism, Turgenev meticulously crafts a narrative that delves into the lives of the aristocracy residing in a rural estate. Through introspection and keen observation, he unravels the intricacies of social hierarchy, while exploring the complexities of love and relationships within this privileged class. The novel serves as a poignant cultural critique, presenting a vivid portrayal of character development amidst the backdrop of the Russian gentry. Themes of disillusionment pervade the narrative, as characters grapple with the conflict between tradition and modernity, symbolized by the changing landscape of society. Turgenev employs symbolism adeptly, weaving it seamlessly into the fabric of the story to convey deeper meanings and emotions. Overall, "A House of Gentlefolk" stands as a timeless masterpiece, offering readers a profound insight into the human condition and the dynamics of a bygone era. Through its rich tapestry of themes and characters, it continues to resonate with audiences, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of Russian literature.
Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev, a Russian novelist, short story writer, poet, dramatist, translator, and proponent of Russian literature in the West, lived from 9 November 1818 to 3 September 1883. Russia's Oryol is where Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was born. His father fought in the Patriotic War of 1812 as a colonel in the Russian cavalry. Turgenev concentrated on Classics, Russian literature, and philology while attending the University of Saint Petersburg from 1834 to 1837 after spending a year at the University of Moscow. Turgenev never wed, but he had many relationships with the family's serfs, one of which gave birth to his daughter Paulinette, who was not his biological child. Oxford conferred an honorary degree on Turgenev in 1879. Turgenev periodically traveled to England, and the University of Oxford awarded him an honorary doctorate in civil law in 1879. Throughout his later years, Turgenev's health deteriorated. An aggressive malignant tumor (liposarcoma) was surgically removed from his suprapubic area in January 1883, but by that time the tumor had spread to his upper spinal cord, giving him excruciating suffering in the months before his death. In his home in Bougival, close to Paris, on September 3, 1883, Turgenev passed away from a spinal abscess, a side effect of metastatic liposarcoma. His bones were transported to Russia and interred at St. Petersburg's Volkovo Cemetery.
