Virgin Soil

While I'm unable to compare Turgenev's Russian with Constance Garnett's English translation--lucky those who know both languages--I would agree that Garnett's version is at times banal and lackluster. Perhaps the problem is that while the characters's dilemmas have become familiar (because of 20th-century Soviet history), the characters's turbulent inner dramas, the emotions, seldom catch fire on the page. And I don't know if the characters's lives are more exciting in Turgenev's original; however, I would not expect a novel published in 1877 to have the same appeal in 2008, when the heat of the era is long past. What's very familiar, and why this novel is essential reading for an understanding of the literature of the past 140 years, is that Turgenev illustrates the conflicts of men and women in their nation-building struggle. (This plot design, and the cast of characters, is probably what interested Constance Garnett's readers of her 1890 translation up to at least the 1930s.) (Please read on, but my apologies to all: I don't yet know how to write a short review.) We have met Turgenev's women and men before: the jingo-patriot imperialist, Tsarist landowner; the politically liberal but socially conservative landowner and his pampered, gossipy, social-climbing wife; the impulsive, hot-headed rebel; the artist-poet who would like to be a revolutionist but is more suited to writing lyrically by candlelight; and the even-tempered rational, physically attractive female rebel who, as a sign of her dedication to the cause, rejects the bourgeois marriage pact; then, not least, the ignorant, retrograde peasants, the silent factory workers, and the hard-pressed, abused man of "anonymous Russia" who must blend into the urban jungle. But Virgin Soil is literature. Turgenev did not write with a template of socialist realism; this is not a "how to" novel on creating democracy in a system that knows only Tsarist imperialism. But, the central dilemma which Turgenev created has not changed: what should the well-meaning, educated person do when she or he is caught between two extremes? The author set up the plot of the novel by identifying himself with--and perhaps many readers will, too--the central consciousness of the novel: Alexey Dmitrievitch Nezhdanov, "the Hamlet of Russia," the educated, peace-loving poet, born out of wedlock to a Russian aristocrat. Highly recommended: Henry James's novel, same theme but set in London, The Princess Casamassima, published in 1886. James had met Turgenev in Paris and knew the plot of Virgin Soil, and perhaps James read a French translation. But Henry James makes his characters come alive on the page: they are part and parcel of their personal and political predicaments. There's a paradox here: According to Constance Garnett and her circle, Henry James was old stuff, an old fuddy-duddy; but James was able to make the reader feel the bite of poverty, the pain of ignorance, and the tragedy of betrayal. Henry

This is the third of Ivan Turgenev's novels that I have read. He is such a wonderful novelist that the things I dislike about some of his female characters (he must have had SUCH a tough time of it!) tends to get obscured. Surely there can't be women in the world that manipulative and self-obsessed! But I'll avoid the risk of confusing things - yes, the title of my review is a quote - and just mention that there are nice women in each of the novels that I have read, as well as the less attractive, but ever so alluring ones. Common to all three Turgenev novels that I have read is rejection - rejection of women by men. But the rejection has nothing to do with the men thinking the women are inadequate. It is the men who see themselves as unworthy and, for me with my Western eyes, their 'reasons' are SO tenuous. And yet, for all that I do see the 'sense' in it - I have seen the world in the same way myself. The outcome for me of this novel was unsatisfactory for another reason that I will not attempt to explain. But it is understandable for me why this outcome was plotted by the author - unlike that of DH Lawrence in another book I reviewed recently. Perhaps Joseph Conrad is correct in 'Under Western Eyes' and those of us with Western eyes will never really understand the Russian - I have certainly tried both personally and in literature. And I have to say I am floundering a bit. Nevertheless, for the sheer joy of reading a brilliantly crafted novel I unreservedly recommend 'Virgin Soil'. Other recommendations: 'Memoirs of a Revolutionist' by Peter Kropotkin 'Fathers and Sons' by Ivan Turgenev 'Spring Torrents' by Ivan Turgenev 'Under Western Eyes' by Joseph Conrad

Encompassing social commentary, a (albeit fairly simplistic) love story, and a homage to Russia's beauty, this work does not fail the lover of Turgenev. Certainly this might not necessarily be the best work with which to begin one's odyssey through Turgenev, but this very effectively pulls together all the familiar elements of his writing. Turgenev is not known for his plot development, and this is again the case here: very little actually occurs. The absence of plot and of action, however, is not to say that this dry, boring drivel. Rather, Turgenev's material, this work in particular, becomes a pleasant marriage of the classic novel with the novel of ideas. His commentary, both political and human, is both trapped in the amber of history and universally relevant (a lovely dichotomy) to the human condition. "Virgin Soil" is a very fine story, and the translation is flowing and literate (having no Russian, I cannot speak to how accurately this might reflect the original).

Having read all of Turgenev's major works, this would be the best one to close one's odyseesy of Turgenev works as it provides his finally achieved view of the desparate situation of then Russia and the skepticism toward the revolutionary movements aiming at social re-engineering. Story is very simple, and no significant action was involved, but a minimum knowlwedge of Russian literature, changing revolutionary movements and intelligentsia situation is required to grasp the width of the topics and issues covered.

Although this book definitely stands on its own, perhaps not as good as Fathers and Sons however, I enjoyed it much more immensely having lived in Russia for a time. Knowing a bit about the Russian people, way of thinking adds immeasurably to the pleasure and understanding of the novel (as it does for all Russian novels). In other words, I can vouch that Turgenev is right on! He truly captures the Russian character, the essentials of which have not changed much since this novel was written over a hundred years ago. Virgin Soil is concerned, among other things, with problems encountered by young revolutionaries when they go out and try to spread the word among the "people." Well, surprise, surprise, this is the same thing I saw when I lived in Russia in the early 90's - why a swift wholesale transition to capitalism did not happen smoothly. You can change economic, political etc. systems but you CANNOT change a people's mindset just like that! So ... read Virgin Soil for Turgenev's wonderful descriptions of nature and his individual characters, but read also with this in mind - that you are getting a glimpse into the Russian character. It all rings true, from the long conversations to the vodka to how world view is influenced by social class.