Oblomov: A Novel
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About this book
Set at the beginning of the nineteenth century before the ideal of industrious modern man when idleness was still looked upon by Russias serf-owning rural gentry as a plausible and worthy goal there was Oblomov. Indolent inattentive incurious given to daydreaming and procrastinationindeed given to any excuse to remain horizontalOblomov is hardly the stuff of heroes. Yet he is impossible not to admire. He is forgiven for his weakness and beloved for his shining soul. Ivan Goncharovs masterpiece is not just ingenious social satire but also a sharp criticism of nineteenth-century Russian society. Translator Marian Schwartz breathes new life into Goncharovs voice in this first translation from the generally recognized definitive edition of the Russian original and the first as well to attempt to replicate in English Goncharovs wry humor and all-embracing humanity chosen by Slate as one of the Best Books of 2008.