First published 1859
Ilya Ilyich Oblomov lies in his decaying apartment, served by his lazy attendant Zakhar. This Russian nobleman has abandoned his civil service position, alienated his companions, and accumulated mounting debts. Yet he cannot summon the energy to address any of these troubles. The outside world demands action and engagement that terrify him. He delays every decision and avoids all responsibility. His inertia threatens to cost him everything, including the woman he loves. Goncharov creates a character whose extreme passivity becomes both comic and tragic. Oblomov represents the decline of Russia's aristocratic class through one man's complete withdrawal from life. His story reveals how fear of change can trap someone in endless procrastination until meaningful connection slips away.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century
Vibes: character-driven, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-study, social-commentary
Setting: Russia
Period: 19th-century
496 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books