The work “First Love” by Turgenev, the reviews of which are given in this article, is a story of the great Russian prose writer, which tells about the emotional experiences of the young protagonist, his love, which is filled with drama and sacrifice. The book first saw the light of day in 1860.
History of creation
Reviews of the book "First Love" by Turgenev allow you to make a full impression of this work. The prose writer created it quickly enough. He wrote from January to March 1860. At that time he was in St. Petersburg.
The basis was personal vivid emotional experience, as well as events that occurred in the writer's family. Turgenev himself later admitted that he depicted his father in the plot. He described everything almost documented, without any embellishment. Later, many condemned him for this, but the realism of this story was extremely important for the author. This is also emphasized by many readers in reviews of the book "First Love" by Turgenev. The writer was confident that he was right, since he sincerely believed that he had absolutely nothing to hide.
Story content
In the reviews of Turgenev's First Love, readers note that the action takes place in Moscow. In the courtyard of 1833. The main character's name is Volodya, he is 16 years old. He spends time in the country with his parents. Ahead of him is an important stage in his life - admission to the university. Therefore, all his free time is devoted to preparing for exams.
Their house has a poor outbuilding. The family of Princess Zasekina soon entered it. The main character accidentally catches the eye of a young princess. He is fascinated by the girl and since then wants only one thing - to get acquainted with her.
Soon, a good case comes up. Mother sends him to the princess. The day before, she receives an illiterate letter from her in which Zasekina asks for her patronage. But what it should be, does not explain in detail. Therefore, mother asks Volodya to go to the princess and give an oral invitation to them at home.
Volodya at the Zasekins
In the book "First Love" Turgenev (reviews note this especially) pays great attention to the first visit to Volodya of this family. It was then that the main character met the princess, whose name is Zinaida Alexandrovna. She is young, but still older than Volodya. She's 21 years old.
Having barely met, the princess invites him to her room. There she unravels the wool, starts flirting with him in every possible way, but soon loses all interest in him.
Her mother, Princess Zasekina, did not postpone her visit. She came to Volodya's mother that evening. At the same time, she made an extremely unfavorable impression. In reviews of Turgenev ’s work “First Love,” readers note that, nevertheless, Volodya’s mother, as a well-bred woman, invites her and her daughter to dinner.
During the meal, the princess continues to behave extremely defiantly. For example, she sniffs tobacco, fidgets noisily in her chair, constantly complains about poverty and lack of money, tells everyone and everyone about her numerous bills.
The princess, on the contrary, behaves well-mannered and even majestically. She speaks with Volodya’s father exclusively in French. At the same time, for some reason he looks at him in a very hostile manner. Volodya himself does not pay any attention. Just before leaving, he secretly whispers to visit her in the evening.
Princess's evening
Many readers love this work, and based on their impressions, we will try to make our brief review. Turgenev's "First Love" also contains a description of the evening at the Zasekins. Volodya meets with him many fans of the young princess.
This is Dr. Lushin, Count Malevsky, poet Maidanov, Hussar Belovzorov and, finally, Nirmatsky, a retired captain. Despite so many potential rivals, Volodya feels happy. The evening itself is noisy and fun. Guests play fun games. So, Volodya draws lots to kiss the handle of Zinaide. The princess herself almost all evening does not let him go from herself, distinguishes him from others and has preference.
It is interesting that the next day his father asks him in detail what the Zasekins had. And in the evening he goes to visit them. After lunch, Volodya wants to visit Zinaida, but the girl does not go down to him. From this moment on, suspicions and doubts begin to torment him.
Love suffering
In reviews of the novel “First Love” by Turgenev, readers note that the author paid special attention to the experiences of the protagonist. When Zinaida is not nearby, he languishes in solitude. But when she appears nearby, Volodya did not feel any better. He is constantly jealous of everyone around him, takes offense at every trifle, and at the same time realizes that he cannot live without her.
Zinaida almost from the first day realizes that the young man fell in love with her without memory. Moreover, in reviews of the story "First Love" by Turgenev, readers always emphasize that the princess herself rarely comes to their house. Mother Volodya categorically does not like her, and her father rarely speaks with her, but always significantly and in a special way clever.
Zinaida has changed
In the book "First Love" by I. S. Turgenev, events begin to develop rapidly when it turns out that the behavior of Zinaida Alexandrovna changes dramatically. She rarely sees people, walks alone for a long time. And when in the evenings the guests gather in their house, it happens that they don’t go out to them at all. Instead, he can sit for several hours, locked himself in his room. Volodya begins, not without reason, to suspect that she is unrequitedly in love, but cannot figure out who exactly.
Once they meet in a secluded place. In any brief review of Turgenev's First Love, this episode is always given special attention. Volodya spends time on the wall of a dilapidated greenhouse. Suddenly he sees that in the distance, Zinaida is walking along the road.
Noticing the young man, she orders him to jump immediately if he really loves her. The young man, without hesitation, jumps. Having fallen, for a while he loses his senses. Recovering, he notices that the princess is busy around him. Suddenly he begins to kiss him, but, noticing that he has come to his senses, gets up and quickly leaves, strictly forbidding him to pursue her.
Volodya is incredibly happy with this short moment. But when the next day he meets the princess, she behaves as if nothing had happened.
Garden meeting
The next episode important for the development of the plot takes place in the garden. The princess herself stops the young man. She is sweet and gracious with him, offers friendship and even favors the title of her page.
Soon Volodya discusses this situation with Count Malevsky. The latter notes that the pages should know everything about their queens and follow them day and night. It is unclear whether the Count spoke seriously or joked, but the very next night Volodya decides to guard in the garden under her window. He even takes a knife with him just in case.
Suddenly in the garden, he notices his father. He runs away from surprise, having lost a knife on the way. In the afternoon, he tries to discuss this situation with the princess, but they are disturbed by her 12-year-old cadet brother, who came to visit. Zinaida instructs Volodya to entertain him.
That same evening, Zinaida inquires from him, which makes Volodya so sad. The same one sheds tears, accusing her of playing with him. The girl consoles him, after a few minutes, having forgotten about everything in the world, he plays with Zinaida and her brother and sincerely laughs.
Anonymous letter
A week later, Volodya learns shocking news. There was a quarrel between his mother and father. The reason is the connection of Volodya's father with Zinaida. His mother found out about this from an anonymous letter. Mother announces that she is no longer going to stay here and is returning to the city.
In parting, Volodya, who goes with her, meets with Zinaida. He swears that he will love and adore her until the end of his days.
The next time the young man meets the princess on a horseback ride. At this time, his father gives him the reins and hides in the alley. Volodya pursues him and sees how he secretly speaks through the window with Zinaida. Father proves something to her, the girl does not agree. In the end, she reaches out to him, but her father abruptly hits her with a whip. Zinaida, startled, kisses the scar. Upset Volodya runs away.
Moving to Petersburg
At the end of the story Volodya moves with his parents to St. Petersburg. He successfully enters and studies at the university. Six months later, his father dies from a stroke. A few days before, he received a letter from Moscow, which extremely excited and upset him. After his death, the mother of the protagonist sends a large sum of money to Moscow, but the young man does not know who and why.
Everything falls into place only after 4 years. A friend tells him that Zinaida is married and is going to go abroad. Although it was not easy, because her reputation after the incident with his father was greatly damaged.
Volodya gets her address, but only goes to her in a few weeks. It turns out that he was late. The princess died on the eve of childbirth.