His work focused on the challenging lives of the Russian peasant class, often depicting their struggles and hardships.
In a later essay, Abramov argued for the repeal of the law denying peasants internal passports and recommended granting them larger shares of the profits from their labor.
His first novel entitled, "Bratya i syostri" ("Brothers and Sisters") written in 1958 depicted the harsh life of northern Russian villagers during World War II.
Abramov wrote two sequels: "Dve zimy i tri leta" ("Two Winters and Three Summers", 1968), and "Puti-pereputya" (“Paths and Crossroads”, 1973).
The asteroid 3409 Abramov, discovered by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Chernykh in 1977, is named after him.