A Common Story 1847 is Ivan Goncharovs debut novel centered on the clash between youthful romanticism and pragmatic reality in 19th-century Russia The protagonist Alexander Aduev leaves his provincial home full of idealistic dreams about love poetry and success in St Petersburg He imagines a future shaped by passion and lofty ideals hoping to become both a man of letters and a person of influence However his youthful illusions soon collide with t...