Classic
Oblomov
by Ivan Goncharov
Summary
Wealthy landowner Ilya Oblomov spends most of his days in bed, unable to summon the will to manage his estate, pursue the woman who loves him, or make any real decision about his life. Goncharov turns Oblomov's paralysis into a broader satire of the Russian landed gentry, whose comfort had left them unable to act. The novel's title character became so recognizable that his name entered the Russian language as a term for chronic apathy.
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Historical Context & Significance
Goncharov published the novel in 1859 after more than a decade of work, and it was read at the time as a pointed commentary on Russia's need for reform. It remains a classic study of inertia and unfulfilled potential in Russian literature.