Grigorovich's epic, sprawling novel "Cart-Tracks" (Prosyolochnye Dorogi, 1852) with its gallery of social parasites came under criticism for being overblown and derivative, Gogol's "Dead Souls" considered the obvious point of reference. Better received was his "The Fishermen" (Rybaki, 1853) novel, one of the earliest works of Russian literature pointing at the emergence of kulak (rich, exploitative peasant) in the Russian rural environment. Hertzen in his detailed review praised the way the author managed to get rid of his early influences but deplored what he thought was the lack of one strong, positive character. "The Fishermen", according to Hertzen, "brought us first signs that Russian society started to recognize an important social force in its people." The emerging proletariat, though, drew little sympathy from the author. "The decline of morality in the Russian village is often caused by [vices of the factory way of life," he opined.