BY THE SAME AUTHOR. (_Leisure Hour Series_.) FATHERS AND SONS. SMOKE. LIZA. ON THE EVE. DIMITRI ROUDINE. SPRING FLOODS; LEAR. VIRGIN SOIL. ANNALS OF A SPORTSMAN. _LEISURE HOUR SERIES_ LIZA OR "A NEST OF NOBLES" _A NOVEL_ BY IVAN S. TURGÉNIEFF _TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN_ BY W.R.S. RALSTON 1873 DEDICATED TO THE AUTHOR BY HIS FRIEND THE TRANSLATOR. PREFACE. The author of the _Dvoryanskoe Gnyezdo_, or "Nest of Nobles," of which a translation is now offered to the English reader under the title of "Liza," is a writer of whom Russia may well be proud.[A] And that, not only because he is a consummate artist,--entitled as he is to take high rank among those of European fame, so accurate is he in his portrayal of character, and so quick to seize and to fix even its most fleeting expression; so vividly does he depict by a few rapid touches the appearance of the figures whom he introduces upon his canvas, the nature of the scenes among which they move,--he has other and even higher claims than these to the respect and admiration of Russian readers. For he is a thoroughly conscientious worker; one who, amid all his dealings with fiction, has never swerved from his regard for what is real and true; one to whom his own country and his own people are very dear, but who has neither timidly bowed to the prejudices of his countrymen, nor obstinately shut his eyes to their faults. [Footnote A: Notwithstanding the unencouraging opinion expressed by Mr. Ralston in this preface, of the probable fate of "Fathers and Children," and "Smoke," with the English public, both have been translated in America and have met with very fair success. Of course, even more may be hoped for the author's other works.]