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On the Eve

On the Eve

By: Ivan Turgenev
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 Set against the backdrop of the 1850s, On the Eve emerges in 1860, just two years prior to Turgenevs renowned novel Fathers and Sons. The story follows the young Elena Nikolaevna Stakhov, daughter of the distracted Nikolai Arteyemvitch and Anna Vassilyevna Stakhov, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships. Misunderstood by her parents—who are more concerned with their own intrigues than Elenas well-being—she finds solace in the company of the aspiring professor Andrei Petrovitch Bersenyev and the ambitious sculptor Pavel Yakovitch Shubin, both of whom may harbor feelings for her. The arrival of Dmitri Nikanorovitch Insarov, a fervent Bulgarian revolutionary seeking to liberate his homeland, complicates her life further. Turgenev masterfully captures the tumultuous emotions of a young woman on the brink of adulthood while offering a vivid portrayal of a youthful Russian society yearning for modern cosmopolitanism, eager to break free from the constraints of its elders. This narrative also serves as a poignant historical commentary on the geopolitical tensions of the time, illuminating the undercurrents that led to the Crimean War and the later Balkan conflicts. (Summary by Nicholas Clifford)Copyright Nature and Animals Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • 013 - Chapters XXIV-XXV

    013 - Chapters XXIV-XXV
    Feb 5 2026
    Set against the backdrop of the 1850s, On the Eve emerges in 1860, just two years prior to Turgenevs renowned novel Fathers and Sons. The story follows the young Elena Nikolaevna Stakhov, daughter of the distracted Nikolai Arteyemvitch and Anna Vassilyevna Stakhov, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships. Misunderstood by her parents—who are more concerned with their own intrigues than Elenas well-being—she finds solace in the company of the aspiring professor Andrei Petrovitch Bersenyev and the ambitious sculptor Pavel Yakovitch Shubin, both of whom may harbor feelings for her. The arrival of Dmitri Nikanorovitch Insarov, a fervent Bulgarian revolutionary seeking to liberate his homeland, complicates her life further. Turgenev masterfully captures the tumultuous emotions of a young woman on the brink of adulthood while offering a vivid portrayal of a youthful Russian society yearning for modern cosmopolitanism, eager to break free from the constraints of its elders. This narrative also serves as a poignant historical commentary on the geopolitical tensions of the time, illuminating the undercurrents that led to the Crimean War and the later Balkan conflicts. (Summary by Nicholas Clifford)
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    23 mins
  • 012 - Chapters XXXI-XXXIII

    012 - Chapters XXXI-XXXIII
    Feb 5 2026
    Set against the backdrop of the 1850s, On the Eve emerges in 1860, just two years prior to Turgenevs renowned novel Fathers and Sons. The story follows the young Elena Nikolaevna Stakhov, daughter of the distracted Nikolai Arteyemvitch and Anna Vassilyevna Stakhov, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships. Misunderstood by her parents—who are more concerned with their own intrigues than Elenas well-being—she finds solace in the company of the aspiring professor Andrei Petrovitch Bersenyev and the ambitious sculptor Pavel Yakovitch Shubin, both of whom may harbor feelings for her. The arrival of Dmitri Nikanorovitch Insarov, a fervent Bulgarian revolutionary seeking to liberate his homeland, complicates her life further. Turgenev masterfully captures the tumultuous emotions of a young woman on the brink of adulthood while offering a vivid portrayal of a youthful Russian society yearning for modern cosmopolitanism, eager to break free from the constraints of its elders. This narrative also serves as a poignant historical commentary on the geopolitical tensions of the time, illuminating the undercurrents that led to the Crimean War and the later Balkan conflicts. (Summary by Nicholas Clifford)
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • 011 - Chapters XXVIII-XXX

    011 - Chapters XXVIII-XXX
    Feb 5 2026
    Set against the backdrop of the 1850s, On the Eve emerges in 1860, just two years prior to Turgenevs renowned novel Fathers and Sons. The story follows the young Elena Nikolaevna Stakhov, daughter of the distracted Nikolai Arteyemvitch and Anna Vassilyevna Stakhov, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships. Misunderstood by her parents—who are more concerned with their own intrigues than Elenas well-being—she finds solace in the company of the aspiring professor Andrei Petrovitch Bersenyev and the ambitious sculptor Pavel Yakovitch Shubin, both of whom may harbor feelings for her. The arrival of Dmitri Nikanorovitch Insarov, a fervent Bulgarian revolutionary seeking to liberate his homeland, complicates her life further. Turgenev masterfully captures the tumultuous emotions of a young woman on the brink of adulthood while offering a vivid portrayal of a youthful Russian society yearning for modern cosmopolitanism, eager to break free from the constraints of its elders. This narrative also serves as a poignant historical commentary on the geopolitical tensions of the time, illuminating the undercurrents that led to the Crimean War and the later Balkan conflicts. (Summary by Nicholas Clifford)
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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