A timeless story of the unbreachable generational divide and a reflection on a nation going through a major social change. Bazarov is undoubtedly the anti-hero of the story and his character accurately represents the idealism and political activism of youth. Nikolai Petrovich represents the parent who tries to be progressive and accommodating to the changes that the younger generation are trying to usher in. Pavel Petrovich is emblematic of those in the older generation who are demanding respect and deference, and I can't help but think there is something of Turgenev himself in his portrayal. Set against the backdrop of the emancipation of the serfs and the profound social upheaval this entailed, this novel has a deserved place in history.