The Diary of a Superfluous Man and Other Stories

Ivan Turgenev (1818-1883) stands as one of Russia's most influential authors. Along with Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, he helped shape the Russian novel and consequently the Russian identity. Born into wealth, Turgenev had a compelling vision of nobility and the perils of serfdom. His profound novels and short stories made him internationally revered. In this collection of short stories, Turgenev characterizes the "superfluous man"—an archetype which becomes central to the rest of his work and Russian literature at large. This idea of an idle, nihilist nobleman characterized by inaction pervades Russian literature throughout the 19th century. Here, in "The Diary of a Superfluous Man", we see one of its earliest iterations. Also included is "A Tour in the Forest" and several more. Turgenev's unique treatment of romance, sociology, and the Russian spirit are all explored here through his commanding, realist prose.