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Fathers and Sons

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Fathers and Sons

By: Ivan Turgenev
Narrated by: David Horovitch
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About this listen

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After graduating from the University of Petersburg, Arkady Kirsanov and his friend and fellow graduate, Bazarov, travel to Kirsanov's family home, eager to embark on their next adventure. Delighted at the prospect of seeing his son, Arkady's father welcomes them both to the Marino estate. Encouraging dramatic conflict between the opposing generations, Ivan Turgenev wreaks havoc in Marino, ensuring Bazarov's nihilistic and progressive political views clash spectacularly with that of the traditional Russian patriarch's.

Set in a time of conflict and social uprising, the people fought for the abolishment of serfdom and despaired at the daily inequality faced by the lower classes. Turgenev offered astute psychological insight into the conflicting parties, from the portrayal of his two young protagonists to that of their older parents and the various women that they try to court.

Ivan Turgenev lived in imperial Russia. Abroad, he was a highly respected and sought-after author and Fathers and Sons was released to great success around Europe. Whilst it undoubtedly ruffled some feathers back home, the public found Ivan's novel to be a fascinating take on the socio-political change that had started to sweep across Russia. Turgenev died in 1883 so he didn't live to see the revolution come to fruition. Regardless, his text would go on to be read by millions, outliving the Tsars themselves.

Narrator Biography

Having studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, David Horovitch has had a television career spanning over 40 years. One of his most notable roles was in 1984 as Detective Inspector Slack in the first BBC Miss Marple adaptation of The Body in the Library. Due to the success of his character, he returned for four Christmas specials.

He has had roles in other shows such as Just William (1994), Foyle's War (2002) and Wire in the Blood (2005) as well as film appearances in The Young Victoria (2009), 102 Dalmatians (2000), The Infiltrator (2016) and Mike Leigh's Mr Turner (2014).

A longtime star of the stage, in 2015 he played the role of George Frideric Handel in All the Angels by Nick Drake at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. As well as narrating numerous audiobooks, David Horovitch also appeared in Audible's multicast drama, The Oedipus Plays.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Classics Romance
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What listeners say about Fathers and Sons

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Enjoyable

An excellent story, well performed except for mispronounced patronymics, which spoilt an otherwise excellent reading.

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Outstanding narration

I loved the narration more than the actual story, and although I realised the writing was superb, I’m ashamed to admit I found it a little boring. I think I kept losing track of who was who.

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Excellent reader

Very good translation and read so as to bring to life the characters and their habitats. David Horovitch is sympathetic and helps one to breath the same air as the actors in this story.

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Phenomenal

This is the first book I've read by Turgenev. His writing has touched me more than anything I've ever read. Beautifully written and outstandingly performed. Thank you to Turgenev and the people who put together this audiobook, especially of course its narrator David Horovitch.

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Beautiful book

An interesting story, easy to kisten to, beautifully written and performed. . . .

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Important still today

Important still today, relationship between children and parents, rationality/scientific advances vrs love and death, the divisions between the haves and have not- and finally what is being Russian- does Russians only function with hard masters with nothing but brute force- or is there hope for reason and more true equality between masters and its people?

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Best version

This is absolutely first-class. The translation is exactly what one would wish: contemporary but totally respectful of the original. Best of all is Horovitch’s reading. Colourful and lively, authoritative and at times immensely poignant, but without any mannered or histrionic performance, this is a masterclass in how to deliver a great classic to a modern audience.
Honestly, I can’t recommend this too highly.

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leabhar síoraí

Bhí sé go hiontach agus bhí aoibhinn liom gach duine sa scéal.

béidh mé ar ais nuair táim níos sine

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13 people found this helpful

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A good book, ending not as good as the rest

good book, great narration and good plot, I personally would have preferred a different ending

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2 people found this helpful

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fantastic

What a story! Observant to tiny detail, it tells a tale of humanity and its foibles, its arrogance but also of its beauty and feeling, intelligence and capacity to feel. Absolutely beautiful, and educational for the soul.

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