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88 CHAPTER IV. TURGENEF. I. While the name of Gogol was temporarily lost in oblivion during the years preceding the Crimean war, his spirit was shedding its ripening influences upon the thinking minds of his country. I know of no parallel example in the history of literature, of an impulse so spontaneous and vigorous as this. Every author of note since 1840 has be- longed to the so-called u school of nature." The poets of 1820 had drawn their inspiration from their own personality. The novel-writers of 1840 found theirs in the spirit of humanity, which might be called social sympathy.

Before studying the great writers of this epoch, we must take note of the elements which pro- duced them, and glance for a moment at the curious movement which ripened them.

Russia could not escape the general fermen- tation of 1848 ; although this immense country seemed to be mute, like its frozen rivers, an in- tense life was seething underneath. The rivers are seemingly motionless for six months of the year; but under the solid ice is running water, and the