On the Eve

Interesting Facts

• The novel describes events set against the backdrop of the Crimean War, adding historical context to the narrative.
• The main heroine, Elena Stakhova, is one of the first portrayals in Russian literature of a woman striving for independence and autonomy.
• The novel touches on themes of patriotism, civic responsibility, and personal freedom, making it relevant even today.
• The work was written during a period when Turgenev was influenced by the ideas of Westernizers and Slavophiles, reflected in his philosophical and social views.
• «On the Eve» was one of Turgenev's first works to explore the theme of national consciousness and the fate of Russia.