First Love and Other Stories

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SONG OF TRIUMPHANT LOVE, WHICH IS SET IN RENAISSANCE ITALY, THESE STORIES ARE ALL PARTLY AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. THEY DEMONSTRATE THE EVOLUTION OF TURGENEV'S SKILLS AND PREOCCUPATIONS, FROM THE DIARY ForM OF HIS FAMOUS STUDY OF A 'SUPERFLUOUS MAN' (1850) AND HIS EXPOSURE OF THE TYRANNY OF SERFDOM IN THE SMALL MASTERPIECE MUMU (1854), TO HIS MOST POIGNANT AND NOSTALGIC EVOCATIONS OF LOVE, ASYA (1858) AND FIRST LOVE (1860).