Virgin Soil

Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 545K words
Chapters: 55

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Virgin Soil by Ivan Sergeevich TurgenevAuthor: Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883,Language: English, Class: PG: Language and Literatures: Slavic (including Russian), Languages and Literature, Release Date: Jan 1, 2001

Editor's review

Virgin Soil is a late major work of Turgenev's long fiction, centered on the Russian "Going to the People" movement of the 1870s. It sets the idealistic fervor of young Narodniks against the weight of rural reality and the hesitations of liberal nobles. The cast is clearly drawn: educated youths devoted to propaganda, practical estate-managing nobles, and women wavering between emotion and conviction, together forming a spiritual portrait of a society in transition. Turgenev's restrained, cool narration lets characters of different standpoints speak for themselves, so readers feel the complex texture of ideals misaligned with reality. As a public-domain electronic edition, this book suits supplementary reading for Russian literature courses, supporting material for nineteenth-century social and intellectual history, and readers interested in novels about intellectuals. While reading, note how the author advances ideological conflict through everyday scenes and dialogue—a method with more tension than direct argument.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Russian literature enthusiasts who want to read Turgenev's major novels systematically
Readers interested in nineteenth-century Russian social and intellectual history and the Narodnik movement
University students of literature and history using it as supplementary course reading
Readers who enjoy group portraits of intellectuals and novels driven by ideological conflict

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction who prefer fast plots and strong dramatic conflict
Readers completely unfamiliar with nineteenth-century Russian society who are unwilling to consult background material
Readers seeking a Chinese translation; this edition is an English public-domain e-book

Reading tips

Read one of Turgenev's major novels first, then approach this book to become familiar with his narrative rhythm
While reading, sketch a chart of characters' positions to distinguish young Narodniks from liberal nobles
A brief grasp of the "Going to the People" movement significantly lowers the barrier to understanding
For the English edition, pair it with an annotated or introductory edition and pay attention to ideological clashes in dialogue

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book in Chinese or English?

According to the material, this is an English public-domain e-book released by Project Gutenberg, in English. Readers who want a Chinese translation need to look for another edition. Those who find English difficult can consult background material first.

Can I understand it without Russian historical background?

You can read it, but understanding will suffer. The novel involves the 1870s Russian youth movement "Going to the People" and the situation of liberal nobles. It is advisable to spend a little time beforehand learning the basics of reform and the Narodnik movement in that period; characters' motives and conflicts will then be clearer.

Is this book suitable as an introduction to Russian literature?

It is not recommended as a first Turgenev work. The book has much ideological discussion and specialized social background, and beginners may be confused by names and positions. It suits readers who have already read one of his representative novels and are basically familiar with his narrative style.

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About the author

Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich, 1818-1883 Author

Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich (1818–1883), was a nineteenth-century Russian novelist. Because the available records are limited, his early life and education cannot be described in detail here. What can be confirmed is his achievement as the author of several widely influential works; this collection holds thirty-five of his books, including Fathers and Sons (also known as Fathers and Children), the second volume of A Sportsman's Sketches, and the novels On the Eve, Rudin, and Asya. His writing is noted for delicate psychological portrayal and a restrained, concise style, and for showing social change through the interplay of personal feeling and social reality, with characters often caught between ideal and actuality. These works hold an important place in Russian literature and the European novel tradition, and retain lasting value for readers seeking to understand nineteenth-century Russian society and the spiritual character of its educated classes.