"Diary of a Superfluous Man" by Ivan Turgenev is a collection of stories that delve into themes of unrequited love, existential alienation, and the struggles of individuals to find meaning in life before their deaths. The narratives revolve around characters facing regrets and loneliness, with a focus on failed relationships and the complexities of human emotions. Turgenev's writing style captures the emotional turmoil and psychological depth of his characters, offering poignant insights into the human condition in 19th-century Russia.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Warnings include themes of existential despair, emotional suffering, and reflections on death and dying.
Has Romance?
There is a significant presence of romance, primarily through Tchulkaturin's one-sided love for Liza.
From The Publisher:
A vivid picture of nineteenth-century Russian society, but above all the poignant story of a man whose mortality becomes the only aspect of life that he shares with his fellow man. When Turgenev published Diary of a Superfluous Man in 1850, he created one of the first literary portraits of the alienated man. Turgenev once said that there was a great deal of himself in the unsuccessful lovers who appear in his fiction. This failure, along with painful self-consciousness, is a central fact for the ailing Chulkaturin in this melancholy tale. As he reflects on his life, he tells the story of Liza, whom he loved, and a prince, whom she loved instead, and the curious turns all their lives took.
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