The Sowers

"The Sowers" by Henry Seton Merriman is a compelling story set in Russia during a time of great social change, focusing on Paul Howard Alexis, an Englishman of noble birth, and Karl Steinmetz, as they become entangled in the difficult world of Russian society. The book explores the hard fight for social reform and the tough moral choices people faced, witnessed through the eyes of the two main characters. The story begins with a bleak scene on the steppes of Tver, where Steinmetz and Alexis find a dead man being dragged by a horse which leads them to talk about the hard lives of the Russian peasants and hints at big social problems linked to the now-closed League of Charity. Alexis feels uneasy about being a prince, dreams of helping others, and does not want to be connected to the League, which suggests he will soon be in conflict with the people in charge. This beginning creates a serious mood, full of moral questions, urging readers to follow the characters' journeys and the complex picture of Russian society during this troubled time.