What Is to Be Done? (Chto Delat?)

This edition features N. G. Chernyshevsky's novel 'What Is to Be Done?'—one of the most controversial works of Russian literature. Published in 1863, the novel immediately sparked heated debate, ranging from sharply negative reviews from conservative audiences to acclaim among left-wing radical youth. According to contemporaries, there wasn't a student, or even a high school student, who hadn't read 'What Is to Be Done?' During the Soviet era, Chernyshevsky occupied a place of honor in the literary Olympus, and his main work became part of the mandatory school curriculum. However, today's examination of 'What Is to Be Done?' forces us to rethink its significance in the history of Russian literature and public life.