Subject
Fathers and sons -- Fiction Books
Best books
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Brothers Karamazov
"The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel published between 1879 and 1880. Set in 19th-century Russia, this passionate philosophical work explores profound questions of God, free will, and morality. The story revolves around the volatile Karamazov family: a disreputable father and his three sons—sensual Dmitri, intellectual Ivan, and idealistic Alyosha. As tensions escalate over inheritance and romantic entanglements, the novel delves into faith, doubt, and reason, with patricide at the heart of its dramatic plot.
Alexandre Dumas
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)
"Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)" by Alexandre Dumas is a novel first published in 1848. This semi-autobiographical story follows the tragic romance between Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan suffering from consumption, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois who falls deeply in love with her. When Armand convinces her to leave her former life behind, their idyllic countryside existence faces interference from his disapproving father, concerned about family scandal. The tale explores forbidden love, sacrifice, and the harsh morals of 19th-century French society.
Joseph Eichendorff
Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts: Novelle
"Aus dem Leben eines Taugenichts: Novelle" by Freiherr von Joseph Eichendorff is a novella completed in 1822/23 and first published in 1826. A miller's son, dismissed as a good-for-nothing, sets out into the world with only his violin. He falls in love with a beautiful lady at a Viennese castle, becomes a toll collector, then abandons everything when she seems unattainable. His wandering journey takes him through Italy to Rome, following mysterious letters and glimpses of his beloved through gardens, palaces, and moonlit streets.
Alexandre Dumas
La dame aux camélias
"La dame aux camélias" by Alexandre Dumas is a novel first published in 1848. Based on the author's own love affair with a courtesan, it tells the tragic story of Marguerite Gautier, a consumptive courtesan, and Armand Duval, a young bourgeois who fall deeply in love. When they retreat to the countryside together, Armand's father intervenes, fearing scandal will ruin the family's reputation. The novel explores forbidden love constrained by society's moral expectations in nineteenth-century Paris.
George Meredith
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel: A History of a Father and Son
"The Ordeal of Richard Feverel: A History of a Father and Son" by George Meredith is a novel published in 1859. After his wife abandons him, Sir Austin Feverel raises his son Richard according to "the System," a rigid educational plan designed to control every aspect of the boy's development. When Richard falls in love with Lucy Desborough despite his father's strict supervision, Sir Austin's interference sets off a chain of events that tests whether any system can truly master human passion and desire.
Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev
Fathers and Sons
"Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev is a novel published in 1862. When university graduate Arkady returns home with his friend Bazarov, a self-proclaimed nihilist, generational tensions erupt. Bazarov's radical philosophy clashes with the older generation's values, while both young men find their beliefs tested by unexpected romance. As ideological conflicts intensify and personal relationships grow complicated, the story explores the widening gap between traditional Russian society and a new generation determined to reject everything their fathers held sacred.
George Barr McCutcheon
Black is White
"Black is White" by George Barr McCutcheon is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with two elderly men, Danbury Dawes and Joseph Riggs, who are anxiously awaiting news from a blue envelope that contains a wireless message from James Brood, their old friend. This mysterious envelope sets the stage for an exploration of past friendships and familial tensions as Frederic Brood, James’ estranged son, navigates his complex relationship with his father and the sudden arrival of a new stepmother. At the start of the novel, the two old friends reflect on their adventurous past and their connection to James Brood, who has been out of their lives for years. They are particularly concerned about what the message might contain regarding the state of affairs on the ocean, unaware that it will lead to a dramatic revelation: James has married again after many years. As Frederic learns of this news, anger and feelings of abandonment surface, particularly as he grapples with his fraught relationship with his father, who seems indifferent to his existence. This opening sets the tone for a tale steeped in emotional conflict, self-discovery, and the dynamics of family relationships against the backdrop of their shared history.
Franz Kafka
Das Urteil: Eine Geschichte
"Das Urteil: Eine Geschichte" by Franz Kafka is a novella written in 1912. Georg Bendemann, a successful merchant's son about to marry, writes to his struggling friend in St. Petersburg. When Georg shows the letter to his bedridden father, a shocking confrontation erupts. The father challenges everything Georg believes about his life, his business success, and his fiancée. Their dispute escalates toward a devastating judgment that will force Georg to choose between his father's authority and his own existence.
Wilkie Collins
Armadale
"Armadale" by Wilkie Collins is a novel serialized between 1864 and 1866. Two young men share the same name and a dark connection: one's father murdered the other's. When they become close friends, a mysterious prophecy and a haunting dream suggest tragic fate awaits them. Enter Lydia Gwilt, a beautiful and dangerous woman with secrets from their families' past, who schemes to claim an inheritance through deception, manipulation, and murder. A tale of identity, destiny, and moral choices unfolds.
Benjamin Disraeli
The Young Duke
"The Young Duke" by Earl of Beaconsfield Benjamin Disraeli is a novel written between 1829-1830. The wealthy young Duke of St James enters fashionable society, squandering his fortune on gambling and pursuing unsuitable romantic attachments. After rejecting his honorable Catholic guardian Mr Dacre, George becomes entangled with the married Lady Aphrodite while falling for Dacre's virtuous daughter May. Financial ruin and a duel force the dissolute duke to confront his character flaws and seek redemption through meaningful action.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sämtliche Werke 9-10 : $b Die Brüder Karamasoff
"Sämtliche Werke 9-10: Die Brüder Karamasoff" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a novel written in the late 19th century. The book explores profound philosophical and theological questions through the lives of the Karamasoff family, particularly focusing on the three brothers: Dmitrij, Iwan, and Aljoscha. It dives into the themes of morality, faith, and the existential dilemmas facing humanity, making it one of Dostoyevsky's most celebrated works. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the Karamasoff family, particularly their father, Fedor Pawlowitsch Karamasoff, an irresponsible and dissipated man who neglects his children. The story outlines the troubled dynamics within the family, hinting at the complex relationships that will unfold between the brothers, especially as each at different times grapples with familial loyalty and philosophical questions of faith and doubt. As they navigate their individual struggles, the foundation is laid for the existential and moral conflicts that define the narrative.
Peter B. (Peter Bernard) Kyne
The Valley of the Giants
"The Valley of the Giants" by Peter B. Kyne is a novel written during the early 20th century. The story revolves around John Cardigan, a pioneering figure who makes significant contributions to the lumber industry and dreams of building a prosperous town named Sequoia. The novel explores themes of love, loss, ambition, and the natural beauty of California's redwood forests, all experienced through the life of Cardigan and later his son, Bryce. The opening portion of the book introduces John Cardigan as he arrives in the untouched wilderness of Northern California in 1850, driven by a desire to carve out a life among the majestic redwoods. It details Cardigan's initial struggle and determination to utilize the natural resources around him, planting the seeds for what will eventually become a thriving community. As Cardigan works to establish his timber business and build Sequoia, the narrative hints at the personal trials he will face, including love, loss, and the challenges of success and failure. The rich descriptions of the redwood forest not only set the stage for the drama to unfold but also highlight the deep connection between Cardigan and the land he cultivates.
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