VIRGIN SOIL (1877)

This novel is about the narodniks in 1860s Russia, intellectuals who went into the countryside to attempt to raise the class consciousness of the peasantry and persuade them to rise up against their oppressors, but who met with almost total incomprehension and opposition from a section of a society who, at that stage, were conservatively attached to Tsar and Orthodox Church. The central character becomes disillusioned with his failure and commits suicide. The language is easy and the characters quite interesting for the most part, though this still had some rather dull stretches before the dramatic final section. 3/5 ( )

Wonderfully told story of young people trying change and survive Russian society. ( )

Turgenev's last novel isn't his best but it's certainly better than the reputation it appears to have.

The book is divided into two parts and I find a marked difference in quality. The first half is somewhat rambling and almost a little directionless as Turgenev artificially forces in encounters he need not, just in order to broaden the novel's scope. It's not a bad first half by any means, it's just not great and doesn't feel too much like Turgenev.

The second part of the story is much better - this reads like proper Turgenev. The build up to the climax is excellent and the collapse of so much of what was constructed is especially pitiable. Turgenev's familiar themes resurface with as much force as they ever had in his previous novels.

So, the first part isn't brilliant, but the second half really raises this novel back up to Turgenev's usual, high standards. ( )