Ivan Goncharov Quotes

Ivan Alexandrovich Goncharov was a Russian novelist best known for his novels A Common Story , Oblomov , and The Precipice . He also served in many official capacities, including the position of censor.

Goncharov was born in Simbirsk into the family of a wealthy merchant; as a reward for his grandfather's military service, they were elevated to gentry status. He was educated at a boarding school, then the Moscow College of Commerce, and finally at Moscow State University. After graduating, he served for a short time in the office of the Governor of Simbirsk, before moving to Saint Petersburg where he worked as government translator and private tutor, while publishing poetry and fiction in private almanacs. Goncharov's first novel, A Common Story, was published in Sovremennik in 1847.

Goncharov's second and best-known novel, Oblomov, was published in 1859 in Otechestvennye zapiski. His third and final novel, The Precipice, was published in Vestnik Evropy in 1869. He also worked as a literary and theatre critic. Towards the end of his life Goncharov wrote a memoir called An Uncommon Story, in which he accused his literary rivals, first and foremost Ivan Turgenev, of having plagiarized his works and prevented him from achieving European fame. The memoir was published in 1924. Fyodor Dostoevsky, among others, considered Goncharov an author of high stature. Anton Chekhov is quoted as stating that Goncharov was "...ten heads above me in talent." Wikipedia

✵ 6. June 1812 – 15. September 1891 • Other names Ivan Aleksandrovič Gončarov

Works

Oblomov

Ivan Goncharov

Ivan Goncharov: 2 quotes 0 likes

Ivan Goncharov Quotes

“[Oblomov:] "Picture a thief or a fallen woman or a cheated fool, if you like, but do not forget the rest of mankind. What about humanity, pray? Writers like yourself try to write only with the head. What? Do you suppose the intellect can work separately from the heart? Why, the intellect needs love to fertilize it. Rather, stretch out your hand to the fallen and raise him, weep over him if he is lost beyond recall, but in no case make sport of him, for he is one to whom there should be extended only compassion. See in him yourself, and act accordingly. That done, I will read you, and bow my head before you."”

Ivan Goncharov book Oblomov

[...] "Give me man, and man alone" said Oblomov. "And, having given me him, do you try to love him."
"Oblomov", Part I Chapter II by I. Goncharov, translated by C. J. Hogarth

Love , Fools , Sport , Reading

“To this day the Russian, though surrounded by a stern, unimaginative world of reality, loves to believe the seductive tales of antiquity. And long will it be before he will have been weaned from that belief.”

Ivan Goncharov book Oblomov

"Oblomov", Part I Chapter V by I. Goncharov, translated by C. J. Hogarth

Love , World , Reality