In the last two days of his own life, Peter Carson completed these new translations of The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Confession before he succumbed to cancer in January 2013. Carson, the eminent British publisher, editor, and translator who, in the words of his author Mary Beard, had probably more influence on the literary landscape of England] over the past fifty years than any other single person, must have seen the irony of translating Ilyich, Tolstoy s profound meditation on death and loss, but he pressed on regardless, apparently refusing to be distracted by the parallel of literature and life. In Carson s shimmering prose, these two transcendent works are presented in their most faithful rendering in English. Unlike so many previous translations that have tried to smooth out Tolstoy s rough edges, Carson presents a translation that captures the verisimilitude and psychological realism of the original Russian text."

Arkady returns to his Russian provincial home after graduation, taking with him his friend Bazarov and there ensues a clash between generations and points of view.

Bazarov, the first in a literary line of angry young men, is a nihilist who represents the new democratic intelligentsia of Russia in the 1860s. His 'nihilism' is simply a rejection of whatever cannot be established scientifically - everything else is 'romantic rubbish' he declares. Arkady's uncle Pavel, however, is an aristocrat who clings to the old values, including a love of poetry and nature, while Arkady himself is a moderate - a liberal gentleman.

When Fathers and Sons was first published, it was severely criticized by the left who felt it was a harsh satire on them, and the right who stated that it was too conciliatory. Turgenev, however, struggled to emphasize the importance of humanity and universal values. Fathers and Sons was his finest novel, the peak of his artistry and of his psychological insight.

As a playwright Chekhov was subversive, even revolutionary, breaking away from the prevailing fashions of contemporary theatre to create an exhilarating new form of drama. He created many plays without heroes and villains, and focused instead on the individual grappling with a moral dilemma. In place of the happy ending came ambiguity, in place of dramatic conflict came the solitary quest. Shocking to his first audiences, his plays are equally provocative today.

A new translation by Peter Carson with an introduction by Richard Gilman.

Ivan Turgenev's Fathers and Sons explores the ageless conflict between generations through a period in Russian history when a new generation of revolutionary intellectuals threatened the state. This Penguin Classics edition is translated from the Russian by Peter Carson, with an introduction by Rosamund Bartlett and an afterword by Tatyana Tolstaya. Returning home after years away at university, Arkady is proud to introduce his clever friend Bazarov to his father and uncle. But their guest soon stirs up unrest on the quiet country estate - his outspoken nihilist views and his scathing criticisms of the older men expose the growing distance between Arkady and his father. And when Bazarov visits his own doting but old-fashioned parents, his disdainful rejection of traditional Russian life causes even further distress. In Fathers and Sons, Turgeneve created a beautifully-drawn and highly influential portrayal of the clash between generations, at a time just before the end of serfdom, when the refined yet vanishing landowning class was being overturned by a brash new breed that strove to change the world. Peter Carson's elegant, naturalistic new translation brings Turgenev's masterpiece to life for a new generation of readers. In her introduction, Rosamund Bartlett discusses the novel's subtle characterisation and the immense social changes that took place in the 1850s Russia of Fathers and Sons. This edition also includes a chronology, suggested further reading and notes. If you enjoyed Fathers and Sons, you might like Leo Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Ilyich and Other Stories, also available in Penguin Classics. 'One of the first Russian novels to be translated for a wider European audience. It is a difficult art: in this superb new version, Peter Carson has succeeded splendidly' Michael Binyon, The Times 'If you want to get as close as an English reader can to enjoying Turgenev, Carson is probably the best' Donald Rayfield, The Times Literary Supplement