A House of Gentlefolk (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

By Ivan Turgenev

One of the most popular Russian novels of the nineteenth century, Turgenev’s 1859 story of the offspring of an aristocratic father and serf mother mirrors his own life. Fyodor Ivanych Lavretsky experiences love and betrayal in Paris, and tragically ironic twists of fate upon his return home. Presented here in Constance Garnett’s English translation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Release date: Apr 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781411446953

Ivan Turgenev

Ivan Turgenev was a Russian writer whose work is exemplary of Russian Realism. A student of Hegel, Turgenev’s political views and writing were heavily influenced by the Age of Enlightenment. Among his most recognized works are the classic Fathers and Sons, A Sportsman’s Sketches, and A Month in the Country. Turgenev is today recognized for his artistic purity, which influenced writers such as Henry James and Joseph Conrad. Turgenev died in 1883, and is credited with returning Leo Tolstoy to writing as the result of his death-bed plea.

Reviews for A House of Gentlefolk (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

[marcelrochester · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was okay, but there was too much exposition & not that much happened. Lame ending. A part of it made me pretentiously think of Proust just b/c of a guy who fell in a bit w/rich people.

[bookish59 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Short but overly dramatic love story with characters who range from insipid to narcissistic to emotional intelligent. It's redemption is the dialogue about the obvious need to change the socio-economic and -political culture of mid-19th century Russia.

[marse_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Home of the Gentry" is the story of two lonely people who find and understand each other, only to have everything fall apart just as their happiness is at hand. A lovely character study that anticipates Chekhov.

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883) was born into a landed and wealthy Russian family. He was a shy and soft spoken man, and never married. He wrote Home of the Gentry in 1859 to great acclaim - it is his most widely read novel.The novel opens in the small Russian town of O- and introduces the reader to Marya Dmitrievna Kalitin - a widow who is raising her daughters alone. Marya Dmitrievna is ‘more emotional than kind-hearted‘ and is a woman of wealth and comfort. Her elderly aunt, Marfa Timofeyevna Pestov, also resides in the house and is a striking contrast to Marya Dmitrievna. In the first pages, the reader learns that a distant relative by the name of Lavretsky has returned to Russia after having spent several years abroad with his beautiful, yet unfaithful wife. The marriage has gone by the wayside and Lavretsky has vowed to return to the land and ‘plough it as well as possible.‘ Not long after his return, Lavretsky’s head is turned by Marya Dmitrievna’s eldest daughter Liza. As the novel unfolds, the reader witnesses the expected plunge into love, and then the tragic unraveling of Lavretsky’s happiness.Home of the Gentry is full of numerous secondary characters with long names - something I have come to expect when reading the classic Russian novelists. Turgenev reveals the depths of his characters’ motivations, drawing detailed sketches of their thoughts, backgrounds and philosophical musings.On one level, the book deals with the idea of a young generation of Russians who have become enamored with European ideas which leave them uprooted from Russia. But, on a more intimate level, it examines the idea of happiness and whether or not man (or woman) is destined to ever find contentment. Turgenev’s philosophy seems to be one of cynicism when it comes to marriage - his characters are either faithless or motivated to marry for financial gain. The novel puts forth the belief in God within a religious framework ruled by rigid adherence to moral pathways…and this belief ultimately enslaves rather than frees an individual. Poignant, bleak and sad, the novel is not an uplifting story.It is always difficult for me to rate these kinds of intellectual classics as I believe there is much I miss in terms of interpretation. Students of Russian history and literature undoubtedly will gain more from this novel than those of us with limited knowledge in those areas. The novel is short but dense. Much of the style is reflective of the time in which it was written. Although I am happy I read this classic, it is not one I could recommend to most readers. But, if you love Russian literature and want to experience a uniquely Russian novel, this is probably one you should add to your list.

[evertrap · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Basically a love story, but the setting and great writing make it very interesting.

[john257hopper · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

found this rather dull and pedestrian. It basically concerns a youngish man Lavretzky whose wife, Varvara, has left him and who falls in love with a young girl (Lisa), but eventually sort of takes his wife back while Lisa goes into a convent. Very conventional 19th century gentry types and no characters stood out for me. 3/5