Turgenev, Ivan

Russian novelist, poet, and playwright Ivan Turgenev (1818 - 1883) is famous for his utterly realistic portrayal of Russia in the 19th century. He believed that in order to change the course of Russian history, the nation needed to follow the ideals of the Enlightenment. Born into a wealthy family, he was staunchly against serfdom, but he did not believe in revolution as the solution to Russian problems and asserted that hard - work and diligence would lead the nation to greatness.

Turgenev is famous for his revolutionary doctrines which widely spread in Russia in the 19th century. His works are full of vivid descriptions of Russian life and some of them present slight psychological analysis and self-evaluation.