Turgenev is from a different century - and another age. This story is set about the time of the emancipation of the serfs, and inevitably is concerned with the ruling class who seem to live lives so detached from reality as to make the reader believe that this is beyond fiction - more like fantasy. I suppose the author is attempting to satirise this elite - the peasants spend a great deal of their time making fun of their rulers, the aristocracy spend a great deal of time discussing in theoretical terms the 'peasant problem' 'the agricultural question' or 'the poltical system' - but never actually do anything about it. the sons are all passionate, enthusiastic, scientific and modern - the fathers stuck in the past, clinging to religion and superstition. Both sets of people seem hindbound by convention in all matters (even though one of the characters claims to be a nihilist) especially those relating to romance, family, marriage and love. I found this an immensely frustrating book - full of irritating characters and stereotypes - and I'm not convinced I'll return to Russian C19th literature for some time. Rating 5/10
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