The novel evolved and expanded from an 1849 short story or sketch entitled "Oblomov's Dream. The novel focuses on the midlife crisis of the main character, Ilya Ilyich Oblomov, an upper middle class son of a member of Russia's nineteenth century landed gentry. Oblomov's distinguishing characteristic is his slothful attitude towards life. While a common negative characteristic, Oblomov raises this trait to an art form, conducting his little daily business apathetically from his bed. While clearly comedic, the novel also seriously examines many critical issues that faced Russian society in the nineteenth century. Some of these problems included the uselessness of landowners and gentry in a feudal society that did not encourage innovation or reform, the complex relations between members of different classes of society such as Oblomov's relationship with his servant Zakhar, and courtship and matrimony by the elite.
The combination of Goncharov''s edits and Schwartzs translation left me thumbing back to the copyright page to confirm 1862, not 1962, as this translation sparkles with contemporary lyricism and humor."Karen Vanuska, Quarterly Conversation -- Quarterly Conversation
Oblomov is a truly great work, the likes of which one has not seen for a long, long time. I am in rapture over Oblomov and keep rereading it.Leo Tolstoy -- Leo Tolstoy
"[Goncharov is] ten heads above me in talent.Anton Chekhov -- Anton Chekhov
""Oblomov" is a truly great work, the likes of which one has not seen for a long, long time. I am in rapture over "Oblomov" and keep rereading it."--Leo Tolstoy--Leo Tolstoy
"[Goncharov is] ten heads above me in talent."--Anton Chekhov--Anton Chekhov
"The combination of Goncharov''s edits and Schwartz's translation left me thumbing back to the copyright page to confirm 1862, not 1962, as this translation sparkles with contemporary lyricism and humor."--Karen Vanuska, "Quarterly Conversation"--Quarterly Conversation
"You can''t help but be captivated by the ''rapture'' that Tolstoy spoke of when reading and rereading it."--Ron Rosenblum, Slate, A Slate Best Book of 2008--Slate
"[Goncharov is] ten heads above me in talent. Anton Chekhov--Anton Chekhov"
"Oblomov" is a truly great work, the likes of which one has not seen for a long, long time. I am in rapture over "Oblomov" and keep rereading it. Leo Tolstoy--Leo Tolstoy"
Oblomov is a truly great work, the likes of which one has not seen for a long, long time. I am in rapture over
Oblomov and keep rereading it. Leo Tolstoy--Leo Tolstoy"
The combination of Goncharov's edits and Schwartz s translation left me thumbing back to the copyright page to confirm 1862, not 1962, as this translation sparkles with contemporary lyricism and humor." Karen Vanuska,
Quarterly Conversation--Quarterly Conversation"
Long before Jerry Seinfeld and Samuel Beckett, there was Ivan Goncharov, a minor government official in czarist Russia, and his classic novel about an ordinary Russian aristocrat mired in his own extraordinary inertia. Chris Lehman,
Bookforum--Bookforum"
"
Oblomov is a truly great work, the likes of which one has not seen for a long, long time. I am in rapture over
Oblomov and keep rereading it."--Leo Tolstoy--Leo Tolstoy
"Offers a fine example of sly and compassionate satire, a very rare genre indeed"--Michael Wood,
London Review of Books--London Review of Books
"You can't help but be captivated by the 'rapture' that Tolstoy spoke of when reading and rereading it."--Ron Rosenblum, Slate, A Slate Best Book of 2008--Slate
"The combination of Goncharov's edits and Schwartz's translation left me thumbing back to the copyright page to confirm 1862, not 1962, as this translation sparkles with contemporary lyricism and humor."--Karen Vanuska,
Quarterly Conversation--Quarterly Conversation
"Long before Jerry Seinfeld and Samuel Beckett, there was Ivan Goncharov, a minor government official in czarist Russia, and his classic novel about an ordinary Russian aristocrat mired in his own extraordinary inertia."--Chris Lehman,
Bookforum--Bookforum
"Long before Jerry Seinfeld and Samuel Beckett, there was Ivan Goncharov, a minor government official in czarist Russia, and his classic novel about an ordinary Russian aristocrat mired in his own extraordinary inertia."--Chris Lehman, Bookforum
--Bookforum
