The essential entries from Dostoevsky's complete Diary, called his boldest experiment in literary form, are now available in this abridged edition; it is a uniquely encyclopedic forum of fictional and nonfictional genres. A Writer's Diary began as a column in a literary journal, but by 1876 Dostoevsky was able to bring it out as a complete monthly publication with himself as an editor, publisher, and sole contributor, suspending work on The Brothers Karamazov to do so. The Diary's radical format was matched by the extreme range of its contents. In a single frame it incorporated an astonishing variety of material: short stories; humorous sketches; reports on sensational crimes; historical predictions; portraits of famous people; autobiographical pieces; and plans for stories, some of which were never written while others appeared later in the Diary itself. A range of authorial and narrative voices and stances and an elaborate scheme of allusions and cross-references preserve and present Dostoevsky's conception of his work as a literary whole. Selected from the two-volume set, this abridged edition of A Writer's Diary appears in a single paperback volume, along with a new condensed introduction by editor Gary Saul Morson.
Collection of the best works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky includes: The Insulted And The Injured Notes from Underground Crime and Punishment The Gambler The Idiot Demons
The award-winning translators Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky have given us the definitive version of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s strikingly original short novels, The Double and The Gambler.The Double is a surprisingly modern hallucinatory nightmare–foreshadowing Kafka and Sartre–in which a minor official named Goliadkin becomes aware of a mysterious doppelganger, a man who has his name and his face and who gradually and relentlessly begins to displace him with his friends and colleagues. The Gambler is a stunning psychological portrait of a young man's exhilarating and destructive addiction to gambling, a compulsion that Dostoevsky–who once gambled away his young wife's wedding ring–knew intimately from his own experience. In chronicling the disastrous love affairs and gambling adventures of Alexei Ivanovich, Dostoevsky explores the irresistible temptation to look into the abyss of ultimate risk that he believed was an essential part of the Russian national character.
Hailed by Washington Post Book World as “the best [translation] currently available" when it was first published, this second edition of Crime and Punishment has been updated in honor of the 200th anniversary of Dostoevsky’s birth. With the same suppleness, energy, and range of voices that won their translation of The Brothers Karamazov the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Prize, Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky offer a brilliant translation of Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky's astounding pyschological thriller, newly revised for his bicentenniel. In Crime and Punishment, when Raskolnikov, an impoverished student living in the St. Petersburg of the tsars, commits an act of murder and theft, he sets into motion a story that is almost unequalled in world literature for its excruciating suspense, its atmospheric vividness, and its depth of characterization and vision. Dostoevsky’s drama of sin, guilt, and redemption transforms the sordid story of an old woman’s murder into the nineteenth century’s profoundest and most compelling philosophical novel.
The book containing seven short stories by Fyodor Dostoevsky offers an eclectic mix of narratives that delve into the complex and often conflicted nature of the human psyche. From the exploration of solitude and unrequited love in "White Nights" to the examination of existential despair and misanthropy in "Notes from Underground," Dostoevsky crafts evocative and thought-provoking tales that showcase his prowess as a master storyteller. In "White Nights," the protagonist finds solace in a brief but intense connection with a stranger he encounters during the sleepless nights of the St. Petersburg summer. Dostoevsky explores themes of isolation, longing, and the painful yearning for human connection, ultimately leaving readers with a poignant reflection on the transient nature of happiness and the possibility of true love. "Notes from Underground," one of Dostoevsky's most famous works, takes readers on a psychological journey into the mind of a tormented and erratic narrator. Through a series of rambling and introspective monologues, Dostoevsky exposes the darker aspects of human nature, grappling with existential questions and shedding light on the inherent contradictions within society. "A Faint Heart" explores themes of social inferiority and the destructive power of pride. The story follows a timid and indecisive protagonist as he navigates the complex webs of societal expectations and personal desires. With biting irony and sharp social commentary, Dostoevsky highlights the destructive consequences of an unchecked ego. In "A Christmas Tree and a Wedding," Dostoevsky presents a story imbued with a sense of hope and redemption. The narrative weaves together elements of tragedy and comedy, exploring themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the transformative power of love. Through the juxtaposition of joy and sorrow, Dostoevsky reminds readers of the unpredictable nature of life and the potential for personal growth. "Polzunkov" dives into the world of bureaucracy and political corruption, where a seemingly insignificant civil servant becomes entangled in a web of deceit and manipulation. Dostoevsky captures the absurdity of a system that values power over morality, offering a scathing critique of societal structures that prioritize self-interest over collective welfare. "A Little Hero" tells the story of a boy who sacrifices his own happiness for the sake of others. Dostoevsky explores themes of selflessness, sacrifice, and the devastating consequences of societal pressures on the individual. With poignant storytelling, he reveals the capacity for both heroism and tragedy that lies within us all. Finally, "Mr. Prohartchin" explores the theme of moral decay in society through the eyes of the eponymous character. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing, post-Napoleonic Russia, this story delves into the destructive effects of greed, materialism, and moral corruption. Dostoevsky offers a scathing critique of a society that has lost its way, ultimately leaving readers with a haunting reflection on the fragility of morality. In this collection of stories, Dostoevsky showcases his remarkable ability to delve into the depths of the human experience. Through his rich character development, unflinching social commentary, and nuanced exploration of themes such as love, isolation, and the inherent contradictions within humanity, the author masterfully captures the essence of what it means to be human. These seven short stories are a testament to Dostoevsky's timeless brilliance and continue to enthrall readers with their piercing insights into the human condition.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born on 11th November 1821. He was introduced to literature very early. At age three, it was heroic sagas, fairy tales and legends. At four his mother used the Bible to teach him to read and write. His immersion in literature was wide and varied. His imagination, he later recalled, was brought to life by his parents' nightly readings. On 27th September 1837 tragedy struck. Dostoyevsky's mother died of tuberculosis. Dostoyevsky and his brother were now enrolled at the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute, their academic studies abandoned for military careers. Dostoyevsky disliked the academy, his interests were drawing and architecture. His father died on 16th June 1839 and perhaps triggered Dostoyevsky's epilepsy. However, he continued his studies, passed his exams and obtained the rank of engineer cadet. Dostoyevsky's first completed work was a translation of Honoré de Balzac's novel Eugénie Grandet, published in 1843. It was not successful. He believed his financial difficulties could be overcome by writing his own novel. The result was 'Poor Folk', published in 1846, and a commercial success. His next novel, 'The Double', appeared in January 1846. Dostoyevsky now became immersed in socialism. However, 'The Double' received bad reviews and he now had more frequent seizures. With debts mounting he joined the utopian socialist Betekov circle, which helped him to survive. When that dissolved he joined the Petrashevsky Circle, which proposed social reforms. The Petrashevsky Circle was then denounced and Dostoyevsky accused of reading and distributing banned works. Arrests took place in late April 1849 and its members sentenced to death by firing squad. The Tsar commuted the sentence to four years of exile with hard labour in Siberia. His writings on these prison experiences, 'The House of the Dead' were published in 1861. In Saint Petersburg that September he promised his editor he would deliver 'The Gambler', a novella on gambling addiction, by November, although work had yet to begin. It was completed in a mere 26 days. Other works followed but a different approach helped immensely. In 1873 'Demons' was published by the "Dostoyevsky Publishing Company". Only payment in cash was accepted and the bookshop was the family apartment. It sold around 3,000 copies. However, Dostoyevsky's health continued to decline, and in March 1877 he had four epileptic seizures. In August 1879 he was diagnosed with early-stage pulmonary emphysema. He was told it could be managed, but not cured. On 26th January 1881 Dostoyevsky suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage. After the second the doctors gave a poor prognosis. A third haemorrhage followed shortly afterwards. Fyodor Dostoyevsky died on 9th February, 1881.
One of the most profound and most unsettling works of modern literature, Notes from Underground (first published in 1864) remains a cultural and literary watershed. In these pages Dostoevsky unflinchingly examines the dark, mysterious depths of the human heart. The Underground Man so chillingly depicted here has become an archetypal figure -- loathsome and prophetic -- in contemporary culture. This vivid new rendering by Boris Jakim is more faithful to Dostoevsky s original Russian than any previous translation; it maintains the coarse, vivid language underscoring the "visceral experimentalism" that made both the book and its protagonist groundbreaking and iconic.
Winner of the Pen/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize The award-winning translation of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic novel of psychological realism. The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery, a courtroom drama, and an exploration of erotic rivalry in a series of triangular love affairs involving the “wicked and sentimental” Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov and his three sons—the impulsive and sensual Dmitri; the coldly rational Ivan; and the healthy, red-cheeked young novice Alyosha. Through the gripping events of their story, Dostoevsky portrays the whole of Russian life, is social and spiritual striving, in what was both the golden age and a tragic turning point in Russian culture. This award-winning translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky remains true to the verbal inventiveness of Dostoevsky’s prose, preserving the multiple voices, the humor, and the surprising modernity of the original. It is an achievement worthy of Dostoevsky’s last and greatest novel.
A captivating story about the price of human freedom. “Without a clear perception of his reasons for living, man will never consent to live, and will rather destroy himself than tarry on earth, though he be surrounded with bread.”-Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor Part of “The Brothers Karamazov”, this is an important short section because of its ideas about freedom and human nature. The central character in this work is a Grand Inquisitor who arrests Jesus. This Xist Classics edition has been professionally formatted for e-readers with a linked table of contents. This eBook also contains a bonus book club leadership guide and discussion questions. We hope you’ll share this book with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and can’t wait to hear what you have to say about it. Xist Publishing is a digital-first publisher. Xist Publishing creates books for the touchscreen generation and is dedicated to helping everyone develop a lifetime love of reading, no matter what form it takes.
The Life in a Siberian Prison “Whoever has experienced the power and the unrestrained ability to humiliate another human being automatically loses his own sensations. Tyranny is a habit, it has its own organic life, it develops finally into a disease. The habit can kill and coarsen the very best man or woman to the level of a beast. Blood and power intoxicate ... the return of the human dignity, repentance and regeneration becomes almost impossible.” - Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The House of the Dead Written after the author himself experienced four years of hard labor in Siberia, The House of the Dead is the story of one Aleksandr Petrovich Goryanchikov – a gentleman from the noble class – who is deported in Siberia for murdering his wife. At first he can’t adapt to the harsh conditions and to the fellow inmates – mostly member of the lower classes. Eventually however, he starts to see the life in Siberia in a different perspective. Xist Publishing is a digital-first publisher. Xist Publishing creates books for the touchscreen generation and is dedicated to helping everyone develop a lifetime love of reading, no matter what form it takes
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