Notes from Underground and The Double (Penguin Classics)
Product ID: 10285152
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Collected here in Penguin Classics are two of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's shorter works, Notes from Underground and The Double, translated by Ronald Wilks with an introduction by Robert Louis Jackson. Alienated from society and paralysed by a sense of his own insignificance, the anonymous narrator of Dostoyevsky's groundbreaking Notes from Underground tells the story of his tortured life. With bitter irony, he describes his refusal to become a worker in the 'anthill' of society and his gradual withdrawal to an existence 'underground'. The seemingly ordinary world of St Petersburg takes on a nightmarish quality in The Double when a government clerk encounters a man who looks exactly like him - his double, perhaps, or possibly the darker side of his own personality. Like Notes from Underground, this is a masterly tragicomic study of human consciousness. Ronald Wilks's extraordinary new translation is accompanied here by an introduction by Robert Louis Jackson discussing these pivotal works in the context of Dostoyevsky's life and times. This edition also contains a chronology, bibliography, table of ranks and notes on each work. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was born in Moscow. From 1849-54 he lived in a convict prison, and in later years his passion for gambling led him deeply into debt. His other works available in Penguin Classics include Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot and Demons. If you enjoyed Notes from Underground and The Double, you might like Dostoyevsky's Demons, also available in Penguin Classics. 'Notes from Underground, with its mood of intellectual irony and alienation, can be seen as the first modern novel ... That sense of meaninglessness of existence that runs through much of twentieth-century writing - from Conrad and Kafka, to Beckett and beyond - starts in Dostoyevsky's work' Malcolm Bradbury Review: Entertaining and thought-provoking - Always been intimidated by the idea of reading Dostoevsky, but these are both very pleasant and, dare I say, funny and entertaining reads. That is not to imply that it's all fun and games. There are very deep observations here related to human psychology and behavior. Highly recommend as an intro to Dostoevsky. I'm about to start reading Crime and Punishment thanks to this intro. Review: “The best definition of man is: a being that goes on two legs and is ungrateful.” - I posted a couple of quotes from the book - and the desertcart ... algorithm? says: "Your review doesn't meet our community guidelines. Please edit and resubmit." Perhaps that is reason enough to buy the book. It is fairly provocative - an existentialist manifesto!
| Best Sellers Rank | #17,507 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #434 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #579 in Classic Literature & Fiction #1,467 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,025 Reviews |
D**R
Entertaining and thought-provoking
Always been intimidated by the idea of reading Dostoevsky, but these are both very pleasant and, dare I say, funny and entertaining reads. That is not to imply that it's all fun and games. There are very deep observations here related to human psychology and behavior. Highly recommend as an intro to Dostoevsky. I'm about to start reading Crime and Punishment thanks to this intro.
M**K
“The best definition of man is: a being that goes on two legs and is ungrateful.”
I posted a couple of quotes from the book - and the Amazon ... algorithm? says: "Your review doesn't meet our community guidelines. Please edit and resubmit." Perhaps that is reason enough to buy the book. It is fairly provocative - an existentialist manifesto!
J**S
Notes from Underground.
Dostoevsky was a Genius. Excellent Philosophy, and great Book. Fast Shipping.
B**E
Great condition, just not my style
The Underground drove me nuts, maybe I should give it a second read (?) The Double was funny.
S**K
A Standard, Quality Book
This is a standard quality paperback with clean printing. The font size and spacing is standard and laid out well. I received what I expected and would recommend this purchase if interested in the contents.
N**E
Dostoevsky's prescience on display
Notes From Underground is easily my second favorite among Dostoevsky's works (behind Brothers, obviously). It has become more and more relevant as generations pass into the modern era, where now the "Underground man" has become almost commonplace. A truly prescient look into and critique of the philosophy of modern liberalism/rationalism. The translation by Ronald Wilks is very good as well, I think he chooses better wording for certain phrases compared to other translations, while maintaining readability. He maintains a balance of the Underground man being intelligent and well spoken while also being unhinged, while other translations make him sound a little too stupid, when he clearly isn't. Overall 10/10, a great introduction to Dostoevsky (I have not read the Double yet)
A**D
Absolutely incredible book
I bought this for a philosophy class that focused on Dostoevsky's "Notes from the House of the Dead" and "Notes from the Underground". Both of them were Penguin Classics and I have to say the translations were really good. This book includes an essay on "Underground" and "Double" which was also a really neat read. The footnotes were pretty good, although sometimes they feel a bit thin. Great read!
J**N
Weird, but I like it.
I've only read the "Notes.." half of the book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Have to read it for my world lit class, and I can definitely see how this book relates to the "Human Condition".
E**N
The voice you pretend not to recognize
This is not a character study. It is a confession wrapped in barbed wire. The Underground Man does not speak to entertain you. He speaks to unravel you. He whispers things you’ve thought but would never admit. He contradicts himself. He despises himself. He picks apart his own thoughts like they are scabs. And he dares you to keep reading. There is no plot. No clean moral arc. Just a mind in full collapse, walking you through the slow death of pride, intellect, and meaning. What makes it devastating is that it is not a performance. It is sincere. Pathetic and terrifying and utterly human. Dostoevsky knew exactly what he was doing. He stripped away every excuse, every defense mechanism, and handed us something raw and alive. The Underground Man is not likable. That is the point. His voice has no filter. It drags you through humiliation, fantasy, rage, and isolation with brutal clarity. You are meant to squirm. This book is short. But it leaves a long echo. It forces you to sit with the parts of yourself you’d rather avoid. The ones that sulk, sabotage, overthink, withdraw, lash out, then beg for forgiveness without deserving it. You don’t finish this book and feel better. You finish it and feel seen in a way that makes your stomach tighten. Five stars. Not for comfort. For truth.
R**A
The quality seems great for the price
I have not read the book but I am excited. The book's paper and cover quality feels solid. The font/text inside is a good size and easyily readable
K**K
Wonderful book
This book was wonderful, it is a precursor of existentialist novels and it offers a deep insight of "the man from the underground" to read before crime and punishment and the brothers Karamazov !
A**'
About author and work
Peak shiii...one of the masterpieces of dostoevsky.
R**R
Product condition
I'm pleased👍🏼
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