Although the book was set in an entirely different time and space than most American 20-somethings are used to, the basic story line can easily resonate with all generations. The young idealist from a privileged upbringing goes out into the real world, discovers its injustices and tries to change it. Thoughts of the civil rights movement and the like spring to mind.
I have both the text and translation, and while I am not proficient enough to say that the translation is a good representation of the text, the translation reads well. Strangely enough, while I was never the best student, I trust the first translator as she was my Russian professor for two years in college!