Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons (also translated as Fathers and Children), published in 1862, is Ivan Turgenev's most celebrated novel and one of the most influential books in Russian history. The story follows Arkady Kirsanov who returns from university to his family estate with his brilliant, unsettling friend Bazarov — a self-declared nihilist who rejects all traditions, authority, and sentiment. As Bazarov's philosophy collides with the older generation, Turgenev creates a timeless portrait of the clash between the progressive and the traditional, the young and the established. The novel introduced the word "nihilism" into the Russian cultural conversation and scandalized the country on publication. Stream free, no account required.