Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883) was born into a landed and wealthy Russian family. He was a shy and soft spoken man, and never married. He wrote Home of the Gentry in 1859 to great acclaim - it is his most widely read novel.

The novel opens in the small Russian town of O- and introduces the reader to Marya Dmitrievna Kalitin - a widow who is raising her daughters alone. Marya Dmitrievna is ‘more emotional than kind-hearted‘ and is a woman of wealth and comfort. Her elderly aunt, Marfa Timofeyevna Pestov, also resides in the house and is a striking contrast to Marya Dmitrievna. In the first pages, the reader learns that a distant relative by the name of Lavretsky has returned to Russia after having spent several years abroad with his beautiful, yet unfaithful wife. The marriage has gone by the wayside and Lavretsky has vowed to return to the land and ‘plough it as well as possible.‘ Not long after his return, Lavretsky’s head is turned by Marya Dmitrievna’s eldest daughter Liza. As the novel unfolds, the reader witnesses the expected plunge into love, and then the tragic unraveling of Lavretsky’s happiness.

Home of the Gentry is full of numerous secondary characters with long names - something I have come to expect when reading the classic Russian novelists. Turgenev reveals the depths of his characters’ motivations, drawing detailed sketches of their thoughts, backgrounds and philosophical musings.

On one level, the book deals with the idea of a young generation of Russians who have become enamored with European ideas which leave them uprooted from Russia. But, on a more intimate level, it examines the idea of happiness and whether or not man (or woman) is destined to ever find contentment. Turgenev’s philosophy seems to be one of cynicism when it comes to marriage - his characters are either faithless or motivated to marry for financial gain. The novel puts forth the belief in God within a religious framework ruled by rigid adherence to moral pathways…and this belief ultimately enslaves rather than frees an individual. Poignant, bleak and sad, the novel is not an uplifting story.

It is always difficult for me to rate these kinds of intellectual classics as I believe there is much I miss in terms of interpretation. Students of Russian history and literature undoubtedly will gain more from this novel than those of us with limited knowledge in those areas. The novel is short but dense. Much of the style is reflective of the time in which it was written. Although I am happy I read this classic, it is not one I could recommend to most readers. But, if you love Russian literature and want to experience a uniquely Russian novel, this is probably one you should add to your list. ( )

2324 Home of the Gentry, by Ivan Turgenev translated by Richard Freborn (read 9 Sep 1990) This book, published in 1859, is Turgenev's second novel, and is mostly laid in 1842. It is very good and it caught me up. I was underimpressed when I read Fathers and Sons in 1975, but I found this book very moving, the female character admirable, and the leading male character a sympathetic character. The book is more often called A Nest of Nobles. This is the best of the nine works of fiction I have read so far in 1990. ( )

A Nest of the Gentry is a fine novel full of descriptions of the lives of Russian gentry with their often supercilious and sybaritic lives, just and unjust to their servants and serfs, some "modern" in their outlooks on society and relations, others more traditional and hidebound (though less of this than one finds in Fathers and Sons), some comfortable and blind in their stations, others more sensitive to changes brewing in society and government (again, less so than in Fathers and Sons), but underlying it all, the basic kaleidoscope of human relations and emotions with family ties (good and bad), love, passion, betrayal, and finally disappointment in love and life because of the uncontrollable and unpredictable sliding doors of fate.

The novel starts slowly, but comes to focus on the lives of Lavritsky and Liza. Lavritsky had a difficult childhood but grew more as a man and was happily married to Varvara Pavlovna, whom he thought would be the love of his life until he discovered, in Paris, that she was unfaithful. Lavritsky left her on the spot, gave her an allowance to live on, traveled, returned to Russia, and led a solitary, bruised life on his estate. Solitary, that is, until he began to fall in love with Liza, 15/16 years his junior, but a remarkably self-assured and mature young woman. In their professed love for each other, Lavritsky saw, "the coveted goblet frothing and sparkling with the golden wine of delight". All of this predicated upon his belief, from a news story, that his wife was dead. But, the goblet was dashed from his hands when his wife, and young daughter, turn up, very much alive, looking for Lavritsky's protection and support. He is bound to do what society requires of him, though he will do nothing more, but any future with Liza is dashed and she, distraught beyond endurance, takes herself to a convent. Varvara Pavlona soon falls into her old ways. She and Lavritsky again lead completely separate lives and Lavritsky becomes a "lonely, homeless wanderer".

Lavritsky, after about eight years of separation, goes to the remote convent where Liza is living. They do not speak to each other, but

"Stepping down from choir to choir she walked close past him; she passed with the even, meekly hurried gait of a nun and did not glance at him; only the eyelashes quivered slightly and the emaciated face bent still lower and the fingers of her clasped hands entwined with the rosary were pressed still tighter. What were they both thinking, what were they feeling? Who can know? Who can say? There are moments in life, such feelings...One can but point to them–and pass on."

A novel of emotions that rings true, fine characters, fine depiction of the intertwining of human relations and emotions.