The Torrents of Spring, First Love, and Mumu

This compilation of Ivan Turgenev unites three of his finest stories into a single, compelling, and affordable edition.

A lauded member of the Russia's literary avant-garde during the mid-19th century, Turgenev's novels and short stories have been celebrated for their poignant, emotionally striking themes and the deft use of plot twists. 

Torrents of Spring

In this novel, we follow Dmitry Sanin, a young landowner who embarks on travel from his homestead in Russia to the German city of Frankfurt. Having already toured Italy and other places in Europe, Dmitry is en route home, and treats Frankfurt as a last stop. 

He promptly falls in love with a woman of striking beauty named Gemma Roselli. Naive but headstrong, the young man valiantly attempts to acclimatize to the customs of the girl's family and the wider city. Gallant but risk-taking, he defends Gemma from admiring remarks made by a German soldier; the result of his public denunciation is a duel arranged some way east of Frankfurt. 

The story itself is cast as a reminiscence of the older, mature Dmitry. Rummaging through his papers, he discovers a lost possession which sends his thoughts back to his adventuring days in Germany. 

First Love

This story - revered as one of Turgenev's best - begins at a party in which three middle-aged men are each telling the tale of their first love. When our protagonist Vladimir Petrovich takes his turn to tell his, he proposes to write it down in a notebook and read it. Herein we are told about Vladimir as a sixteen year old, staying with his family in the countryside, wherein he meets his new neighbour: the young, beautiful Zinaida Alexandrovna Zasyekina.  

Although the girl is five years his senior, Vladimir falls for her immediately. However the beautiful and mischievous Zinaida has other suitors, and many are better placed in life compared with the teenage Vladimir. 

Mumu

In this short story, Gerasim - a deaf and mute serf - has moved to Moscow after a life spent working the country fields. Introduced as a porter working for an old, spiteful landlady, Gerasim has developed a crude form of sign language to communicate with those he knows. Although brutish in physique, Gerasim has an affectionate spirit which he expresses to Tatiana, a young housemaid. 

When Gerasim rescues a dog whom he names Mumu. The company of the hound is a great relief to the man, who has suffered under grinding poverty in Moscow. However others disapprove of the dog's presence, and Gerasim must eventually make difficult choices.