World Literature Classics Popular Edition -- First Love

Author: Ivan Turgenev
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: This book is a collection of five representative short stories by the renowned Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, each with its own unique characteristics. The famous story "First Love" tells the story of a sixteen-year-old male protagonist who falls in love with Zinaida, a newly moved-in neighbor. However, the girl is eccentric, sometimes passionate and fiery, and at other times cold as ice, causing the protagonist great unease. Later, he discovers that his father is also secretly dating her, leading to a falling out. "The Last Days" depicts the deaf and mute doorman Gerasim, who loses his beloved and, to pass the time, adopts a puppy named "Mema." Soon, the puppy's barking angers the female landowner, and under her coercion, he is forced to drown his beloved dog in a river. The novel genuinely reflects a serf's silent yet strong protest against serfdom.