Ivan Turgenev

Date of Birth: November 9, 1818

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: September 3, 1883

Biography

Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev was a prominent Russian novelist, short story writer, and playwright of the 19th century, born on November 9, 1818, in Oryol, Russia. Turgenev was known for his complex characters and keen psychological insights, often exploring themes of social change and the clash between old and new ways of thinking in Russian society. His most famous works include “Fathers and Sons,” “A Sportsman’s Sketches,” and “Rudin.” Turgenev spent a considerable part of his life in Western Europe, where he interacted with other literary giants like Gustave Flaubert and Henry James. His work had a significant influence on both Russian literature and European literature, and he was a key figure in introducing Russian literature to the West. Turgenev passed away on September 3, 1883, in Bougival, France.

5 Interesting Facts about Ivan Turgenev

1. Turgenev was the first Russian writer to gain international fame.

2. He had a lifelong romantic and intellectual relationship with French opera singer Pauline Viardot.

3. His novel “Fathers and Sons” introduced the term “nihilism” to a wider audience.

4. Turgenev was a strong advocate for the abolition of serfdom in Russia.

5. He was friends with and influenced by literary figures like Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky, despite having ideological differences with them.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ivan Turgenev

1. “A poet must be a psychologist, but a secret one; he must be a concealed one.”

2. “Whatever a man prays for, he prays for a miracle. Every prayer reduces itself to this: Great God, grant that twice two be not four.”

3. “If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.”

4. “The word tomorrow was invented for indecisive people and for children.”

5. “To desire and expect nothing for oneself and to have profound sympathy for others is genuine holiness.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ivan Turgenev’s highest net worth is not well documented, but his estate and earnings from his literary works suggest he was relatively well-off compared to many of his contemporaries.