Fathers and Children

by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev, Constance Black Garnett

Overview

His name was Nikolai Petrovitch Kirsanov. He had, twelve miles from the posting station, a fine property of two hundred souls, or, as he expressed it-since he had arranged the division of his land with the peasants, and started 'a farm'-of nearly five thousand acres. His father, a general in the army, who served in 1812, a coarse, half-educated, but not ill-natured man, a typical Russian, had been in harness all his life, first in command of a brigade, and then of a division, and lived constantly in the provinces, where, by virtue of his rank, he played a fairly important part. Nikolai Petrovitch was born in the south of Russia like his elder brother, Pavel, of whom more hereafter. He was educated at home till he was fourteen, surrounded by cheap tutors, free-and-easy but toadying adjutants, and all the usual regimental and staff set.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781020325571
Publisher:	Legare Street Press
Publication date:	07/18/2023
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.88(d)

Read an Excerpt

Ill ' So here you are, a graduate at last, and come home again,' said Nikolai Petrovitch, touching Arkady now on the shoulder, now on the knee. ' At last!' 'And how is uncle? quite well?' asked Arkady who, in spite of the genuine, almost childish delight filling his heart, wanted as soon as possible to turn the conversation from the emotional into a commonplace channel. ' Quite well. He was thinking of coming with me to meet you, but for some reason or other he gave up the idea.' ' And how long have you been waiting for me ?' inquired Arkady. ' Oh, about five hours.' ' Dear old dad !' Arkady turned round quickly to his father, and gave him a sounding kiss on the cheek. Nikolai Petrovitch gave vent to a low chuckle. ' I have got such a capital horse for you!' he began. ' You will see. And your room has been fresh papered.' ' And is there a room for Bazarov ? ' We will find one for him too.' ' Please, dad, make much of him. I can't tell you how I prize his friendship.' ' Have you made friends with him lately ?' ' Yes, quite lately.' ' Ah, that's how it is I did not see him last winter. What does he study ?' ' His chief subject is natural science. But he knows everything. Next year he wants to take his doctor's degree.' ' Ah ! he's in the medical faculty,' observed Nikolai Petrovitch, and he was silent for a little. ' Piotr,' he went on, stretching out his hand, ' aren't those our peasants driving along ?' Piotr looked where his master was pointing. Some carts harnessed with unbridled horses were moving rapidly along a narrow by-road. In each cart there were one or two peasants in sheepskin coats, unbuttoned. ' Yes, sir,' replied Piotr. ' Where are they going,—to the town ?' ' Tothe town, I suppose. To the gin-shop,' he add...