Why did both radicals and conservatives criticize Fathers and Sons?

Upon its publication in 1862, Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons faced a hostile reception from both sides of the political spectrum due to its balanced, objective portrayal of the era's ideological conflicts.12

• The Radical Younger Generation: These critics attacked the novel bitterly, viewing it as a slander against their movement. They took offense at the characterization of the protagonist, Yevgeny Bazarov, a nihilist who rejects traditional authority and embraces only the natural sciences.123
• The Conservatives: Conversely, conservative critics condemned the work for being too lenient in its depiction of nihilism. They felt the novel did not sufficiently denounce the radical philosophy that Bazarov represented.12

Ultimately, Turgenev’s attempt to provide an evenhanded, sociopsychological portrait of the divide between the revolutionary intelligentsia and the traditional aristocracy left him alienated from both groups, contributing to his decision to leave Russia.142