This work was not well-received by the Russian literary circles at the time, but how was it for me, living in modern Japan, to read it... to be honest, it was not interesting.

So is the novel not worth reading?

No, that's not it.

In fact, for me, the novel "Smoke" became one of the most impressive of Turgenev's works.

I personally highly recommend this work. I think this work is of immense significance in understanding what art is in literature.

Turgenev was the son of a wealthy landowner and a good-looking man. He was a star in the literary world, and in social circles, he was known as a dandy with his witty wit and outstanding intellect. There was no way he could not be popular. It is interesting to compare him with Dostoevsky. He is the exact opposite of popular. Turgenev was a man in love from his youth.

However, although he was such a man, he never married for the rest of his life.

He had one woman whom he loved all his life.

It was an opera diva named Pauline Viardot.

In this article I will talk about Turgenev's love. It is also interesting to compare him with Dostoevsky.

Dostoevsky was to be peppered with satirical portrayals of Turgenev in his own work, "Evil Spirits," in the form of a character named Karmazinov.

It must have been quite a blow to Turgenev to be satirized in this way.

But he loves art beyond personal relationships.

I have fallen out with Dostoevsky, but I fully appreciate the value of his work. And to be fair, he even introduced him to French writers. I think this is a respectful act done out of love for art.

Dostoevsky and Turgenev first met in 1845 and soon became bitter enemies.

Their association would continue until the last years of their lives.

The famous incident in which the two clashed decisively came to a head in 1867 at Baden-Baden, Germany, a world-renowned recreation area.

This article will discuss their clash.

ドストエフスキーやツルゲーネフ、トルストイの作品や解説を読んでいてよく出てくるのがタイトルにもあるスラブ派・西欧派という言葉。

当時のロシア文学は純粋な娯楽や芸術としてだけではなく、国や人間のあり方について激論を交わす場として存在していました。

彼らにとっては文学とは自分の生き方、そして世の中のあり方を問う人生を賭けた勝負の場だったのです。

その尋常ではない熱量、覚悟が今なお世界中でロシア文学が愛されている理由の一つなのではないかと私は考えています。