Antonina (Tur novel)
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| Author | Evgenia Tur |
|---|---|
| Original title | Антонина |
| Translator | Michael R. Katz |
| Language | Russian |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | Northwestern University Press (English translation) |
Publication date | 1851 |
Published in English | 1996 |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 978-0-8101-1407-4 |
Antonina (Russian: Антонина) is an 1851 novel by Evgenia Tur, one of several Russian novels influenced by Jane Eyre.[1][2] A first English translation by Michael Katz was published by Northwestern University Press in 1996.
The story follows Antonina from her childhood in a troubled household through her early adulthood. After her father's financial decline, her situation worsens, and she is left in the care of relatives who treat her harshly. Life at home becomes increasingly difficult, shaping her sense of isolation and her desire to leave.
Eventually, Antonina finds a way out by taking a position as a governess. This step offers her a degree of independence, but her situation remains uncertain and dependent on others. While working, she forms an emotional attachment that briefly raises the possibility of a more stable future.
These hopes do not last. Social expectations, misunderstandings, and gossip undermine her position and affect how she is perceived by others. As a result, Antonina is forced to give up her plans and faces a return to a more precarious existence.
The novel follows her response to these setbacks, focusing less on external events than on her inner experience. Throughout the narrative, Antonina's character is shaped by endurance and a strong sense of personal integrity, even as her circumstances remain difficult.[3]