This short novel takes the form of a diary written by the underground man concerning everything he despises about 19th century Russian society, its people, and the philosophical ideas of the time. I recommend this for fans of his work or those that want a short introduction to his work. I’m marking this down for the “Classic in translation” O4 square for my Classic BINGO challenge I’m working on this year.įyodor Dostoevsky will forever be one of my favorites. If you are looking for a short introduction to Dostoevsky and his style - I recommend checking out The Dream of a Ridiculous Man and Notes from the Underground. Not trying to be dramatic but it was fascinating reading and it shook me to my core with the writing style that Fyodor Dostoevsky used. Notes from the Underground will be the most memorable story out of this collection. IMO, Dostoevsky stands alone in his psychoanalysis of his characters. These stories get pretty heavy in parts and sometimes very dark with themes of suicide, descending into madness, etc. Overall, I rate this collection 4 stars with this individual break down of the stories:ĭostoevsky is definitely an acquired taste. Notes from Underground, the Double and Other Stories is a collection of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s short fiction: She is the author of Surprised by Shame: Dostoevsky's Liars and Narrative Exposure. Martinsen is Assistant to the Director of the Core Curriculum at Columbia University and Adjunct Associate Professor of Russian and Comparative Literature.

In addition to these two existential classics, this collection also includes the psychologically probing stories “The Meek One,” “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man,” and “White Nights.”ĭeborah A. Internal conflict is also explored in “The Double,” a surreal tale of a government clerk who meets a more unpleasant version of himself and is changed as a result. In an impassioned, manic monologue this character-plagued by shame, guilt, and alienation-argues that reason is merely a flimsy construction built upon humanity’s essentially irrational core. Often considered a prologue to Dostoevsky’s brilliant novels, the story “Notes from Underground” introduces one of the great anti-heroes in literature: the underground man, who lives on the fringes of society. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences-biographical, historical, and literary-to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works. Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectationsĪll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications some include illustrations of historical interest. Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholarsĬhronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events

Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: Notes from Underground, The Double and Other Stories, by Fyodor Dostoevsky, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classicsseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras.

Notes from underground