An Outline of A VITAL QUESTION: or, WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

Written By Kristen Lese

-Nikolai Chernyshevsky (Nikolai G. Tchernuishevsky)

Translation: Nathan Haskell Dole & S.S. Skidelsky

Second Translation WHAT IS TO BE DONE? From Tales about New People translated by Michael R. Katz, annotated by William G. Wagner

  • I. A FOOL (The Fool) 1856 Maria was 17

    Everyone agrees only a fool would shoot himself on the edge the Liteinaia bridge they also agree this is the only possible conclusion.

  • II. THE FIRST CONSEQUENCES OF THE FOOL’S DEED (The First Consequence of This Foolish Affair)

  • PREFACE

PART FIRST

  • I. THE LIFE OF VIERA PAVLOVNA IN HER PARENT’S FAMILY (Vera Pavlova’s Life with Her Family)

  • II. (22) 59

  • III. (27)

  • IV. (30)

  • V. (35)

  • VI. (39)

  • VII. (41)

  • VIII. (45)

  • IX. (50)

PART SECOND

  • I. FIRST LOVE, AND LEGAL MARRIAGE (55) 88

  • II. (58)

  • III. (62)

  • IV. (65)

  • V. (72)

  • VI. (75)

  • VII. (79)

  • VIII. THE TEMPTATION OF HAMLET (85) Hamlet’s Trial 134

  • IX. (90)

  • X. (95)

  • XI. (98)

  • XII. VIEROTCHKA’S FIRST DREAM (103) 129

  • XIII. (105)

  • XIV. (108)

  • XV. (111)

  • XVI. (114)

  • XVII. (115)

  • XVIII. (118)

  • XIX. (125)

  • XX. (128)

  • XXI. (131)

  • XXII. (138)

  • XXIII. (142)

  • XXIV. A WORD OF PRAISE FOR MARYA ALEXKSYEVNA (147) Eulogy of Mary Aleksevna 167

PART THIRD

  • I. MARRIAGE AND SECOND LOVE (151) 170

  • II. (153)

  • III. VIERA PAVLOVNA’S SECOND DREAM (163) 180

  • IV. (172)

  • V. (185)

  • VI. (189)

  • VII. (191)

  • VIII. (195)

  • IX. (200)

  • X. (201)

  • XI. (202)

  • XII. (206)

  • XIII. (207)

  • XIV. NASTENKA’S STORY (210) Kryukova’s Story 220

  • XV. (218)

  • XVI. (221)

  • XVII. (225)

  • XVIII. (227)

  • XIX. VIERA PAVLOVNA’S THIRD DREAM (229) 236

  • XX. (237)

  • XXI. (243)

  • XXII. A THEORETICAL CONVERSATION (246) 252

  • XXIII. (254)

  • XXIV. (258)

  • XXV. (261)

  • XXVI. (263)

  • XXVII. (267)

  • XXVIII. (269)

  • XXIX. AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN (269) 271

  • XXX. (291)

  • XXXI. A COLLOQUY WITH THE SAPIENT READER, AND HIS BANISHMENT (309) A Conversation with the Perspicarious Reader Followed by His Expulsion 307

PART FORTH

  • I. SECOND MARRIAGE (317) 314

    • Berlin July 20, 1856

  • II. Petersburg, Aug. 25, 1856(329)

    • Viera would be 17

  • III. (336)

  • IV. (337)

  • V. (338)

  • VI. (345)

  • VII. (346)

  • VIII. (353) The two translations start to vary here.

  • IX. (355)

  • X. (356)

  • XI. (357)

  • XII. A DIGRESSION CONCERNING BLUE STOCKINGS(360) *my chapters are off A Digression on Bluestockings 352

  • XIII. (361)

  • XIV. (363)

  • XV. (367)

    • 1. (369)

    • 2. (369)

    • 3. (371)

    • 4. (372)

    • 5. (374)

    • 6. (375)

    • 7. blank section 6 asterisks (377) * * * * * *

    • 8. (377)

    • 9. (381)

    • 10. (385)

    • 11. (387)

  • XVI.(388) *chapters off again Vera Pavlona’s Fourth Dream 359

  • XVII. A LETTER FROM EKATERINA VASILYEVNA POLOZOVA (390) **A Letter from Katerina Vasilienva Polozova

    • St. Petersburg, Aug.29 1860 - Maria was 21

  • XVIII. A Letter from Katerina Vasilienva Polozova (starting from book translations now

CHAPTER FIVE - PART FIFTH

  • I. New Characters and the Conclusion 387

  • II.

  • III.

  • IV.

  • V. 395

  • VI.

  • VII.

  • VIII.

  • IX.

  • X. 409

  • XI.

  • XII.

  • XIII.

  • XIV.

  • XV. 418

  • XVI.

  • XVII.

  • XVIII.

  • XIX.

  • XX. 427

  • XXI.

  • XXII.

  • XXIII.

Chapter Six

  • I. Change of Scene 444

    • April 4, 1863

Kristen Lese

Next

Chapter Summaries - Fathers and Sons