Fathers and Sons

Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev (1862)

Bazarov, a young nihilist who rejects all authority, tradition, and sentiment, clashes with the older generation — until love makes a mockery of his philosophy. The novel that introduced the word "nihilism" to the world.

Historical Significance:
Published in 1862, Fathers and Sons captured the generational conflict tearing Russian society apart in the 1860s. Turgenev coined the term "nihilist" to describe Bazarov's rejection of all established values — and the word immediately entered every European language. Both radicals and conservatives attacked the novel: radicals felt Bazarov was a caricature, conservatives felt he was glorified. Turgenev, devastated by the backlash, spent most of his remaining years in Western Europe. The novel's exploration of how each generation rebels against its parents, only to be betrayed by its own contradictions, remains timeless.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1862. Free to read and share.