Virgin Soil The author's final novel, in which he examines the young idealists of the "go to the people" era. Literature
Torrents of Spring From another highly autobiographical novel, in which a young traveler falls madly in love with a local German girl and imagines what might have happened. Literature
First Love Turgenev's most autobiographical novel, which tells the story of a 16-year-old boy's infatuation with an older girl. Literature
Smoke The novel after Fathers and Sons, in which Turgenev skewered Westernizers and Slavophiles alike. Literature
Fathers and Sons A short excerpt from the novel that brought Turgenev world renown, with its dissection of the divide between the liberals of the 1840s and the radicals of the 1860s. Literature
On the Eve Turgenev's third novel, set on the eve of the Crimean War, discusses the destiny of Russia through the story of a young woman named Elena, who marries a foreign revolutionary. Literature
The Petersburg Feuilletons A journalistic piece from 1847, in which Fyodor Mikhailovich lambasts "the dreamer" omnipresent in St. Petersburg life. Literature
Hamlet and Don Quixote A vitally important bit of literary (and social) criticism by Turgenev, in which he divides the world up into Hamlets and Quixotes. Literature
The Many Faces of Fyodor Mikhailovich Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky is known for huge, intense, philosophical works, but this reputation ignores the great variety of his writing. Literature
A House of Gentlefolk Extract from the author's least controversial and most widely read work during his lifetime. Yet Goncharov (he of Oblomov fame) accused Turgenev of plagiarizing the story from him. Literature
Genius An autobiographical story about the author's earliest attempt to get his poetry published. Literature
Rudin An excerpt from the finale of Turgenev's first novel, about Rudin, a "Titan in word but a pygmy in deed." Literature
