7/10

Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons" is driven by two elements: a character study of a 'nihilist' named Barazov and the difficulty of communication between generations. Bazarov is a provocative, frequently maddending, and occasionally inspiring character struggling to live life on his own terms. His nihilism is a kind of crude one - detesting all authroity, superstition, sentimentality, displays of emotion, etc. His strength of will and individualism give him a certain power and influence over others, but also a kind of weakness, which recurs in his inability manage romantic relationships or accept and endure his parents love and care. Turgenev avoids grandiose plot design, as the story mostly follows Bazarov's rather aimless wanderings with his friend Arkady in the country side on the way to visit their parents. Despite Bazarov's frequent rants against sentimentality, Turgenev sprinkles the text with moving, heart-rending scenes. My edition has a lecture from Isaiah Berlin which I skipped as it seemed to go into detail about the plot, but will return to now.