On the Eve


Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)

(4.6 stars; 38 reviews)

On the Eve appeared in 1860, two years before Fathers and Sons, Turgenev's most famous novel. It is set in the prior decade (by the end of the novel, the Crimean War (1853-56) has already broken out. It centers on the young Elena Nikolaevna Stakhov, daughter of Nikolai Arteyemvitch and Anna Vassilyevna Stahov. Misunderstood by both her parents (Nikolai Artemyevitch is at least as interested in his German mistress as in members of her family) she is on friendly terms with both the would-be professor Andrei Petrovitch Bersenyev and the rising young sculptor Pavel Yakovitch Shubin, both of whom might be -- or might not be -- in love with her. The appearance of Dmitri Nikanorovitch Insarov, a young Bulgarian revolutionary who seeks independence for his nation,, alters the balance of her relationships however. The book is praised, among other things, for the way in which Turgenev manages to describe the varying emotions of a girl on the verge of womanhood. But it is also a portrayal of a kind of youthful Russian society striving towards a modern cosmopolitanism, that will shake off the parochialism and narrowness of its elders.

A geopolitical note: Bulgaria was, at the time, still part of the decaying Ottoman empire in the Balkans, but already the vultures were circling -- Russia, Britain, and France -- hoping to get what they could when the collapse came. Hence, in large part, the coming of the Crimean War, hence the Balkan conflicts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, hence in part World War I, and ultimately the Balkan wars of the late twentieth century (Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, etc. etc.). (Summary by Nicholas Clifford) (6 hr 10 min)

Chapters

Chapter I 19:59 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters II-V 34:02 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters VI-VIII 30:37 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters IX-XI 28:46 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XII and XIV 24:25 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapter XV 25:55 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapter XVI & XVII 25:22 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XVIII-XX 26:02 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XXI-XXIII 29:53 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XXIV-XXVII 27:49 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XXVIII-XXX 36:16 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XXXI-XXXIII 38:17 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Chapters XXIV-XXV 22:51 Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)

Reviews

Interesting story.


(5 stars)

A unique perspective on a group of passionate, intelligent young people leading up to the Crimean War. It’s more a love story than any sort of war chronicle. Narration is exceptional, as always, by Mr. Clifford. Poignant and worth a listen.


(4 stars)

Russian names are difficult to follow, but Clifford's ever suave delivery guides the reader smmoothly through this poignant novel.

Beautiful


(5 stars)

Beautiful story and beautifully read by Nicholas Clifford.


(5 stars)

well read drama with interesting and symbolic characters.


(4 stars)

rating for reader. the book was average


(5 stars)

Great reading of a great book.

on the Eve


(4 stars)

Another Turgenev triumph!


(4 stars)

Brilliantly read. A Russian love story set during Crimean war. A young Russian girl falls in love with a Bulgarian revolutionary. They marry and she leaves everything to pursue his cause then tragedy strikes.