The diary of a superfluous man, and other stories

A young nobleman, confined to his sickroom in a remote village, begins a diary just days before he expects to die. His voice is wry and self‑aware, oscillating between bleak metaphysics and the mundane details of a life shaped by a gambling father and a relentlessly virtuous mother. Through his candid confession we glimpse the restless boredom of a “superfluous” aristocrat, the absurdity he finds in trying to record a whole existence in a fortnight, and the quiet humor that colors his reflections on family, duty, and the looming end.

The collection gathers several of Turgenev’s short works, each offering a sharp portrait of 19th‑century Russian society—from idle gentry to the subtle struggles of ordinary people. Listeners will appreciate his elegant prose, the blend of melancholy and wit, and the timeless questions about purpose, identity, and the fleeting nature of life. This is a thoughtful, intimate listening experience that invites contemplation without giving away the story’s later turns.