"Anna Karenina" was written by Leo Tolstoy and published in 1877. The story centers on Anna Karenina, a woman living in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Much of the novel follows her relationship with Count Vronsky and the effects it has on her family life. The book also shows everyday life in Russian cities and the countryside during the 19th century.
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky
Answer: The Idiot
"The Idiot" was written by Fyodor Dostoevsky and published in 1869. The novel follows Prince Myshkin, a kind and honest man who returns to St. Petersburg after many years abroad. His behavior is often misunderstood by the people around him. The story explores how society reacts to someone who is truly good and open.
3. Anton Chekhov
Answer: Uncle Vanya
"Uncle Vanya" was written by Anton Chekhov and first staged in 1899. The story centers on Ivan "Vanya" Voynitsky, who lives and works on a rural estate in Russia. Much of the action happens in the same house and garden, where characters argue, reflect, and repeat the same routines. The play focuses on missed opportunities and quiet personal conflicts rather than dramatic events.
4. Alexander Pushkin
Answer: The Captain's Daughter
The Captain's Daughter" was written by Alexander Pushkin and published in 1836. The story follows Maria Ivanovna, the daughter of a military captain, during the Pugachev Rebellion in 18th-century Russia. Much of the action takes place at her father's fort and nearby countryside.
The novel combines history, adventure, and romance, showing how ordinary people are affected by war and rebellion.
5. Nikolai Gogol
Answer: Dead Souls
"Dead Souls" was written by Nikolai Gogol and published in 1842. The novel follows Pavel Chichikov, who travels across provincial Russia buying the legal rights to deceased serfs. He plans to use these "dead souls" to appear wealthy and gain social status. The story uses this strange scheme to show corruption, greed, and everyday life in 19th-century Russia.
6. Ivan Turgenev
Answer: Fathers and Sons
"Fathers and Sons" was written by Ivan Turgenev and published in 1862. The novel follows Bazarov, a young man who rejects traditional values, and his interactions with his family and friends in provincial Russia. The story shows conflicts between older and younger generations over ideas, love, and society.
It also explores the rise of new philosophies and the struggles of understanding between different social views.
7. Mikhail Bulgakov
Answer: The Master and Margarita
"The Master and Margarita" was written by Mikhail Bulgakov and completed in the 1930s, though published posthumously in 1967. The novel follows the Master, a writer in Moscow, and his lover Margarita. Strange events unfold when the Devil visits the city, causing chaos and challenging social norms.
The story mixes love, satire, and supernatural elements, making it one of the most famous Russian novels of the 20th century.
8. Boris Pasternak
Answer: Doctor Zhivago
"Doctor Zhivago" was written by Boris Pasternak and published in 1957. The novel follows Yuri Zhivago, a doctor and poet, during the Russian Revolution and Civil War. Much of the story shows his love for Lara, his struggles with war, and the changes in Russian society.
The book mixes romance, personal life, and historical events, making it one of the most famous Russian novels of the 20th century - especially following David Lean's cinematic adaptation starring Omar Sharif and Julie Christie.
9. Vladimir Nabokov
Answer: Lolita
"Lolita" was written by Vladimir Nabokov and published in 1955. The novel is told by Humbert Humbert, a man obsessed with a young girl named Dolores Haze, whom he calls Lolita. Much of the story takes place during a road trip across the United States. The book is known for its unusual narrator and for raising difficult moral questions, which made it very controversial.
10. Maxim Gorky
Answer: Mother
"Mother" was written by Maxim Gorky and published in 1906. The novel follows Pelageya Nilovna, a working-class woman in industrial Russia, whose son becomes involved in revolutionary activities. As she supports him, she slowly changes from a quiet mother into a person who understands social injustice.
The book shows the growth of political awareness among ordinary people before the Russian Revolution.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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