Fathers and Sons

By: Ivan Turgenev

Narrated by: David Horovitch

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

After graduating from the University of Petersburg, Arkady Kirsanov and his friend and fellow graduate, Bazarov, travel to Kirsanov's family home, eager to embark on their next adventure. Delighted at the prospect of seeing his son, Arkady's father welcomes them both to the Marino estate. Encouraging dramatic conflict between the opposing generations, Ivan Turgenev wreaks havoc in Marino, ensuring Bazarov's nihilistic and progressive political views clash spectacularly with that of the traditional Russian patriarch's.

Set in a time of conflict and social uprising, the people fought for the abolishment of serfdom and despaired at the daily inequality faced by the lower classes. Turgenev offered astute psychological insight into the conflicting parties, from the portrayal of his two young protagonists to that of their older parents and the various women that they try to court.

Ivan Turgenev lived in imperial Russia. Abroad, he was a highly respected and sought-after author and Fathers and Sons was released to great success around Europe. Whilst it undoubtedly ruffled some feathers back home, the public found Ivan's novel to be a fascinating take on the socio-political change that had started to sweep across Russia. Turgenev died in 1883 so he didn't live to see the revolution come to fruition. Regardless, his text would go on to be read by millions, outliving the Tsars themselves.

Narrator Biography

Having studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, David Horovitch has had a television career spanning over 40 years. One of his most notable roles was in 1984 as Detective Inspector Slack in the first BBC Miss Marple adaptation of The Body in the Library. Due to the success of his character, he returned for four Christmas specials.

He has had roles in other shows such as Just William (1994), Foyle's War (2002) and Wire in the Blood (2005) as well as film appearances in The Young Victoria (2009), 102 Dalmatians (2000), The Infiltrator (2016) and Mike Leigh's Mr Turner (2014).

A longtime star of the stage, in 2015 he played the role of George Frideric Handel in All the Angels by Nick Drake at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. As well as narrating numerous audiobooks, David Horovitch also appeared in Audible's multicast drama, The Oedipus Plays.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

New to Turgenev

This tender picture of what moves men beneath the face they present is both poetic and merciless. These specimens of Russia’s pre-revolutionary society are a mixture of mismatched aristocrats as they conceive and lose friendships, romance, and life itself.
A reader is treated to a dozen distinct characters, well-delivered by the narrator. Their lives weave upon the warp of Russia’s elegant and aging golden age. I finished listening hoping those depths of humanity continue to move our hearts.

Narration

The narration seemed very effective, at least the part I could hear. The many passages the narrator whispered to himself we inaudible. Still, I think I got the gist of the book. In my opinion, readers should speak if not to be heard in the last row of the auditorium, at least to be heard in the first.

Book and Narrator Amazing

Turgenev is a literary master. The book is fabulous. But I have to applaud David Horovitch. One of the best narrators to which I’ve listened! He really made this audio book come alive!

The story

Simple and beautiful story about 2 generations… brilliant example of Russian literature. Makes me nostalgic for a time that never was….

Enjoyed and was touched by this story

This title was off the beaten track for me, but my father recommended and I am glad that he did. Laugh out loud funny in places, and very nicely written and performed.

The narration was perfect for me.

NIHILISM'S DEATH

Understanding the culture of other countries is aided by reading histories and literary classics.  Like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Ivan Turgenev paints a picture of Russian culture in the mid-1800s.  In “Fathers and Sons” it is the age of Alexander II, the Russian Tsar who began his reign in 1855. He presided over emancipation of serfs in 1861. 

The Tsar’s intention is to liberate serfs from aristocratic servitude.  In respect for the Tsar, some Russian farmers offer their farmland to serfs in return for rent or a percentage of profits from the sale of produce. It is eventually quelled by Alexander III (1881-1894) who represses and reverses Alexander II’s political and social liberalization.  Turgenev dies soon after Alexander III’s ascension.  In “Fathers and Sons” one can see the seeds for Alexander III’s reaction to Alexander II’s liberalization. 

The principal character in “Fathers and Sons” is Yevgeny Vassillievitch Bazarov.  He is a young doctor who sees the world through science. Bazarov does not believe in God and sees morality as a fiction induced by society. He is a nihilist. He purports to believe life is meaningless.

Turgenev introduces a doppelganger of Basarov in a wealthy young widow named Anna Odinsova.  Odinsova is attracted to Bazarov’s views based on her life experience.  She sees life as equally meaningless.  The irony is that Basarov falls in love with Odinsova.  Loving someone contradicts meaninglessness in life.  Odinsova does not love Basarov but admires his intellect.  Basarov's professed love betrays his nihilist beliefs.

Basarov dies from Typhoid, never to realize the wasted life he has led.  His death leaves his mother and father to grieve over Basarov's great potential and lost opportunity.  Turgenev’s warning to humanity is that God, morality, and love makes life worth living, while ignominious death is left to nihilists.

Quick read despite lack of action

I wasn’t sure what to think but this came well regarded, so I gave it a try. The dialogue is great and the themes are both easy to follow and become interested in. All the characters are well fleshed out, showing their good and bad sides and how they fit into Russian society at that time. Glad I read it. Horowitz does a fantastic job with the reading, giving separate and distinct life to each character.

very good.

Perhaps the finest novel I have read. poignant drama of family life, love and death.

An exceptional listening experience

An unforgettable novel. David Horovitch’s dramatic narration is magnificent. Definitely a five-star listening experience.

Read

Oh, read this amazing and intriguing novel if you want to know more about Russian culture/literature/ etc. etc. Don't reduce Russian literature to Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. If you read Dostoevsky, do not assume that all Russian are psychos. Turgenev, Gogol, Goncharov, Nabokov, Pushkin, Bulgakov, Gorky, Pasternak, Bely- these are some of the giants of Russian literature that are worthy of your time and describe Russian from totally different angles. This is a very well-written novel with an amazingly simple plot and tons of subtext about understanding what was going on not only in Russian but European (never mind that Russia is a part of Europe) history. And it is also the novel about passionate love. A.