'Notes from Underground' plunges readers into the tormented psyche of an unnamed narrator, a bitter and isolated former civil servant living in St. Petersburg. Through his confessional and often contradictory thoughts, he explores themes of existentialism, free will, and the nature of society, challenging the ideals of rational egoism. As he navigates memories of his past and interactions with others, readers witness his profound disdain for the world and yet an intense longing for connection. This novella is a deep dive into the struggles of human consciousness, provoking reflection on one's own existence. Dostoevsky's masterful prose and psychological insight make 'Notes from Underground' not just a story but an unsettling journey into the depths of the human soul.
By Fyodor Dostoevsky
Published: 1994
"I am a sick man... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. There is hardly a single respectable quality in my character."
Award-winning translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky give us a brilliantly faithful rendition of this classic novel, in all its tragedy and tormented comedy. In this second edition, they have updated their translation in honor of the 200th anniversary of Dostoevsky’s birth. One of the most remarkable characters in literature, the unnamed narrator of Dostoevsky's most revolutionary novel is a former official who has defiantly withdrawn into an underground existence. In full retreat from society, he scrawls a passionate, obsessive, self-contradictory narrative that serves as a devastating attack on social utopianism and an assertion of man’s essentially irrational nature.
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“I am a sick man... I am a spiteful man. I am an unattractive man. There is hardly a single respectable quality in my character.”
Notes from Underground
By Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Fyodor Dostoevsky was a renowned Russian novelist and philosopher, born on November 11, 1821, in Moscow. He is best known for his profound explorations of psychology, morality, and the human condition, as illustrated in his major works such as "Crime and Punishment," "The Brothers Karamazov," and "The Idiot." His life was marked by personal hardships, including imprisonment and exile, experiences that profoundly influenced his literary themes. Dostoevsky's writing delves into existential dilemmas, faith, and the struggle between good and evil, making him a pivotal figure in 19th-century literature. He passed away on February 9, 1881, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate with readers and thinkers worldwide.
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