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Cover of Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov

Oblomov

  • 517 pages · about 9 hours
  • First published 1913
  • 117 editions
  • Free to read

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1 About this book

Oblomov (Russian: Обломов) is the second novel by Russian writer Ivan Goncharov, first published in 1859. Ilya Ilyich Oblomov is the central character of the novel, portrayed as the ultimate incarnation of the superfluous man, a symbolic character in 19th-century Russian literature. Oblomov is a young, generous nobleman who seems incapable of making important decisions or undertaking any significant actions. Throughout the novel, he rarely leaves his room or bed. In the first 50 pages, he only manages to move from his bed to a chair.

The novel was popular when it came out, and some of its characters and devices have imprinted on Russian culture and language.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

  • Philosophy
  • Domestic fiction
  • Russia in fiction
  • Social life and customs
  • Russia (federation)
  • Aristocracy (Social class)
  • Bureaucracy
  • Gentry

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3 About Ivan Goncharov

1812–1891

Ivan Aleksandrovich Goncharov ( GON-chə-rof, US also -⁠rawf; Russian: Ива́н Алекса́ндрович Гончаро́в, IPA:; 18 June [O.S. 6 June] 1812 – 27 September [O.S. 15 September] 1891) was a Russian novelist best known for his novels The Same Old Story (1847, also translated as A Common Story), Oblomov (1859), and The Precipice (1869, also translated as Malinovka Heights). He also served in many official capacities, including the position of censor.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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