Ivan Goncharov

Oblomov Ivan Goncharov Russian edition

Oblomov is the second novel of Ivan Goncharov, and is presented here complete in its original Russian.

Published in 1859 at a time when Russia was becoming more sceptical of the abilities of its ruling classes, Oblomov is a staunch satire of the nobility and their inadequacies. The titular main character is fraught with inertia, being incapable of doing anything or going anywhere: indeed, the first fifty pages of the book only see him traverse from his bed to his bedroom chair.

Renowned for questioning the nature of Russian nationality and personality, Oblomov has a unique place in Russian literature and remains studied by scholars within and outside the country. At first the novel appears to be narrated neutrally - however, as Oblomov's character and incapacity to act become clear, the narrator increasingly judges and criticises characters such as members of Oblomov's wider family for their overprotective tendencies.

This edition of the text is complete and unabridged, with the original Russian preserved identically to the original publication.