Must-Read 19th C. Russian Novels
Russia Authors of the 1800s Describe Life in This Period of History
Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Lermontov, Tolstoy, and Turgenev are authors who wrote novels that are considered "must-reads" for students of Russian history and literature.
The 19th century was a brilliant period for Russian literature. Alexander Pushkin introduced writing in Russian (rather than French), and literary geniuses followed his lead. Dostoevsky, Lermontov, and Tolstoy are all authors important to 19th century Russian literature. Russian literature is important for students of Russian history because it describes life, social ills, the development of ideas, political problems, and other issues that were relevant to the life of the authors and members of Russian society.
Must-Read 19th Century Russian Novel – Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin, also known as Evgeni Onegin, is Alexander Pushkin's masterpiece novel in verse. It is one of the most significant works of Russian literature. Pushkin, the father of Russian literature, is responsible for transforming the way Russian authors wrote from that point forward. Eugene Onegin also introduced many literary themes that future Russian writers would continue.
Must-Read 19th Century Russian Novel – Crime and Punishment
Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment is both a philosophical novel and a psychological one. The protagonist, Raskolnikov, represents one of the St. Petersburg's desperate, poor, and hungry individuals who goes to great lengths to survive – and is tormented by his own conclusions about morality.
Must-Read 19th Century Russian Novel – Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy wrote War and Peace as well as Anna Karenina, but Anna Karenina is a sufficient example of Tolstoy's work. Tolstoy's writing is marked by dense descriptions and twisting plots. Anna Karenina is the tragic heroine that has inspired movie adaptations of the novel. Tolstoy, though a member of the Russian literary canon, is often studied as much for his life as for his literature. Tolstoy was so interested in peasant life that he often took to the fields to plow them, even though he was a member of the upper class.
Must-Read 19th Century Russian Novel – A Hero of Our Time
Mikhail Lermontovwrote A Hero of Our Time using Byronian themes as well as the idea of the “superfluous man” that appears so frequently in Russian literature.
Must-Read 19th Century Russian Novel – Fathers and Sons
Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons is a novel that attempts to illustrate the difference between generations and the drastic changes in schools of thought that occurred in 19th century Russia.
While these works of 19th century Russian literature are important as works of fiction, their historical value cannot be underestimated. In addition, any one of these novels makes for a good read, even if you aren't interested in the more sophisticated aspects of Russian literature.
