What Is to Be Done?

What Is to Be Done? is an 1863 Russian novel written by Nikolai Chernyshevsky while imprisoned in St. Petersburg's Peter and Paul Fortress. The narrative follows Vera Pavlovna, a young woman in 1850s Russia who seeks independence from her controlling family and their plans for her arranged marriage. The book opens with a mysterious sequence involving an apparent suicide at Liteyny Bridge, then shifts to follow Vera's story as she navigates personal relationships and societal expectations. Originally published in serialized form in the newspaper Sovremennik, the novel gained significant readership despite being written under the constraints of prison censorship. This work served as both a critique of contemporary Russian society and a vision of potential social reform through economic independence and the redefinition of traditional relationships. Through its exploration of women's emancipation, labor organization, and social transformation, the novel became highly influential among Russian revolutionaries and reformers.

Readers note this book's historical impact while finding the actual text difficult to engage with. Many describe pushing through dense, repetitive prose to understand its influence on Russian revolutionary thought. Likes: - Portrayal of strong female characters for its time - Philosophical discussions about social reform - Window into 1860s Russian radical thinking - Scenes of communal living arrangements Dislikes: - Meandering, unfocused narrative - Heavy-handed political messaging - Wooden dialogue and characterization - Poor English translations - Excessive length One reader called it "a slog but worth it for understanding Lenin's influences." Another noted it "reads more like a political tract than a novel." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (416 ratings) Amazon: 3.4/5 (12 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (89 ratings) Most reviews acknowledge its historical significance while recommending it primarily to readers interested in Russian revolutionary literature rather than casual readers seeking entertainment.

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky A direct response to Chernyshevsky's ideals, this text explores an isolated narrator's rejection of rational self-interest and societal progress in 19th century Russia.

Mother by Maxim Gorky The story follows a woman's political awakening through her son's revolutionary activities in pre-revolutionary Russia, mirroring Vera's journey of consciousness.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx This foundational text presents theories of class struggle and social transformation that influenced both Chernyshevsky's work and subsequent revolutionary movements.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin Set in a future society, this novel examines themes of individual freedom versus collective control that Chernyshevsky first explored.

Poor Folk by Fyodor Dostoevsky Through letters between two cousins, this novel depicts the struggles of lower-class Russians seeking dignity and independence in a restrictive society.

🔷 The novel was so influential that Lenin named his famous political pamphlet "What Is to Be Done?" after it, and Vladimir Nabokov's father was named Dmitri Nikolaevich in honor of the author. 🔷 Written entirely during Chernyshevsky's imprisonment, the manuscript had to pass through multiple censors before publication, yet it still managed to become a cultural phenomenon that inspired real-life cooperative workshops. 🔷 The character of Vera Pavlovna's dreams became a significant literary device, with the fourth dream sequence depicting a utopian future with buildings made of aluminum and glass - remarkably prescient for 1863. 🔷 The book was banned by Russian authorities shortly after publication but continued to circulate through underground networks, becoming required reading in revolutionary circles for over 50 years. 🔷 Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote "Notes from Underground" partially as a direct polemic response to the rational egoism philosophy presented in "What Is to Be Done?"