First Love and Other Stories

These six stories are an obvious influence on the likes of Chekhov or Katherine Mansfield. They describe small moments that, nevertheless, have something epic in their emotional scale. It is the characterisation that makes them something really special. From the flawed, superfluous man of the first story, to the small cruelties of the old mistress in 'Mumu.' It is the two love stories 'Asya' and 'First Love' that are the most beautifully written. The two very different women at the centre of these stories are haunting and fascinating. The childlike, impetuous Asya, and the vain, complex Zinaida, linger in the mind long after the stories are over - much as they linger in the minds of the narrators. Turgenev is an evocative writer and he creates something nostalgic and, at times, romantic about the places and the people he describes. These are not plot-driven stories and some of them are long by modern standards, but they are written with real and rare skill.

Loved this book. Couldn't wait to read another.

Excellent

Interesting

Orlando Figes in his ‘The Europeans’ depicts Turgenev as a very sensitive person, so deeply affected by romantic love that he doggedly followed Pauline Viardot everywhere throughout her European sojourns. There are therefore many likely autobiographical elements, including ex-patriot life in Germany, in the sensitive accounts of delicate uncertain love in the stories of ‘Asya’ and ‘First Love’. Such love is always tinged with sorrow and loss. Even a man’s love of his dog is turned to loss in ‘Mamu’. Love’s vagaries divide friends and inflict hurt in ‘The Song of Triumphant Love’, or love becomes a tool to tease its captives in ‘The Diary of a Superfluous Man’. All this in the context of a cruel Russian feudal culture in ‘King Lear of the Steppes’. For Turgenev it seems, love constantly promises sublime sensitive fulfilment, but its hope is spoilt. It fails to deliver.

Not much feel of Russia - possibly look for a different translator

I am an avid reader of American and European fiction from the late 19th century onwards and have never delved into the Russians, so, instead of going in headlong to a War and Peace or Brothers Karamazov, i picked up the novella First Love by Turgenev. The writing is simple, the story instantly engaging and the sentiment easy enough to relate to. Three men sit around following supper and discuss their respective first loves, neither of the first two has an interesting tale to tell, but the third has an intriguing story which he writes down and proceeds to tell us. Aged 16 our young hero spends the summer in a cottage in the country with his rather detached parents when an aged and impoverished princess and her daughter move in next door. The daughter is beautiful, our narrator becomes infatuated and he suffers all the agony of a first love, a first realisation that such things do not always turn out as we might have hoped, and all the while struggling to understand his own life and his own relationship to his parents. The twist in the tale is a little obvious and the extra cast of characters perhaps a little under-developed, but the central narrator is a journey through the emotions and his journey is extremely engaging. A very successful first Russian for me and i shall now move on and report back with the findings!!

the book arrived on time but the package was broken. the damage is just on the cover but next time i'll send it back.

What a subtle language! Such benign characters!! Amazing book. Enriching. Must read.

I knew nothing of James Strang, the self-proclaimed leader of his own Mormon sect,nor that he established a kingdom on Beaver Island in the state of Michigan. His kingdom was the Kingdom of God, of which he was King and although he acknowledged U.S. government control of the island, in effect, Mormons had authority over any who chose not to be a part of his church. Strang successfully defended himself from charges of trespassing on government land, even treason and in doing so gathered enough support to win a seat in the Michigan State Legislature in 1853 where he became an effective and respected political representative. Although his sect established monogamy as its practice initially, he later endorsed polygamy, and in doing so, lost many of his followers who had interest in reforming the church in Utah. This story is especially relevant today when we learn ways in which the Federal Government insinuated itself in the demise of his kingdom and allowed his assassins to go unpunished. Government authority and the practices of religion continue to be in conflict today. My trip to three western states this past Fall introduced me to the remarkable achievements of the Mormons, and this book informed me of the historical connection my own state has with Mormons. The author, John J. Miller has made real people and real events more exciting than most fiction. I loved this book! I urge you to read it.

I had first read its(First Love) translation by Ta.Ra.Su in Kannada "Pratama Pranaya", never the less to tell you I was in Love with Ta.Ra.Su's work. So much captivated by the story I immediately bought its English version "First Love and other stories". I could not help myself but read it again, I was and am so moved by the narrative style, detailed descriptions, elaborate depictions of emotions at the same time vivid picture of the background and setup, Ivan has created in his work is applaudable. Ivan Turgenev doesn't simply write, he takes his readers on a visual and emotional tour into his stories. No doubt I've become a great fan of Ivan Turgenev. I recommend this book for every book lover.

I feel that once in a while I have to go back to classic literature---just to remind myself what used to be considered more than good. To renew perspective. That's the situation here. The short story "Mumu" is powerful and charming simultaneously. I'm not sure if this is "the first" dog story in modern literature, but it does set the bar for us today. The dog and her owner are prototypes. Mumu is charming and devoted. Her peasant owner rivals her for devotion. "King Lear of the Steppes" is powerful, intricate. Turgenev paints this character as unlikeable and likeable in the same paragraph, maybe sentence . We see that he is the tormentor, but tormented and desperately needy. A couple of notes: Turgenev has a great sense of humor; his depictions of peasant life in the mid to late 1800s remind us how far we've come since then; his characterizations of peasants and peasant life are detailed and masterful. And, with his descriptions of Russian woods, you will feel that you are there. When you grow tempoarily tired of the literature of our day, read this. Short story writers today have learned from him.

Gives one a look of romantic and economicly necessary love from historical and other perspectives. Fantastic read.