Fathers and Children

"Fathers and Children" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is a novel that captures a pivotal moment in 19th-century Russia, showcasing the growing gap between generations amid changing social beliefs. The story begins with Nikolai Kirsanov, a landowner, anticipating his son Arkady's return from university, a reunion that promises to bring new perspectives and challenges to his traditional way of life. Arkady arrives with his friend Bazarov, whose nihilistic beliefs immediately clash with the established values of Nikolai and his brother Pavel. The narrative explores the friction between the older generation, clinging to tradition, and the younger one, eager to embrace radical ideas and reject the old order, setting the scene for conflicts and revelations within the Kirsanov household and Russian society.