Notes from the Underground — Fyodor Dostoevsky

Notes from Underground is a novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky first published in the journal Epoch in 1864 It is a first person narrative in the form of a confession the work was originally announced by Dostoevsky in Epoch under the title A Confession The novella presents itself as an excerpt from the memoirs of a bitter isolated unnamed narrator generally referred to by critics as the Underground Man who is a retired civil servant living in St Petersburg Although the first part of the novella has the form of a monologue the narrator s form of address to his reader is acutely dialogized According to Mikhail Bakhtin in the Underground Man s confession there is literally not a single monologically firm undissociated word The Underground Man s every word anticipates the words of an other with whom he enters into an obsessive internal polemic The Underground Man attacks contemporary Russian philosophy especially Nikolay Chernyshevsky s What Is to Be Done More generally the work can be viewed as an attack on and rebellion against determinism the idea that everything including the human personality and will can be reduced to the laws of nature science and mathematics

Notes from Underground is a novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky first published in the journal Epoch in 1864 It is a first person narrative in the form of a confession the work was originally announced by Dostoevsky in Epoch under the title A Confession The novella presents itself as an excerpt from the memoirs of a bitter isolated unnamed narrator generally referred to by critics as the Underground Man who is a retired civil servant living in St Petersburg Although the first part of the novella has the form of a monologue the narrator s form of address to his reader is acutely dialogized According to Mikhail Bakhtin in the Underground Man s confession there is literally not a single monologically firm undissociated word The Underground Man s every word anticipates the words of an other with whom he enters into an obsessive internal polemic The Underground Man attacks contemporary Russian philosophy especially Nikolay Chernyshevsky s What Is to Be Done More generally the work can be viewed as an attack on and rebellion against determinism the idea that everything including the human personality and will can be reduced to the laws of nature science and mathematics

The unnamed narrator of the novel a former government official has decided to retire from the world and lead a life of inactivity and contemplation His fiercely bitter cynical and witty monologue ranges from general observations and philosophical musings to memorable scenes from his own life including his obsessive plans to exact revenge on an officer who has shown him disrespect and a dramatic encounter with a prostitute Seen by many as the first existentialist novel and showcasing the best of Dostoevsky s dry humour Notes from Underground was a pivotal moment in the development of modern literature and has inspired countless novelists thinkers and film makers

Notes from the Underground is a dystopian tale of the Underground Man a retired civil servant living in St Petersburg who retreats from society This work is considered by many to be the first existentialist novel and influenced many classic works including Metamorphosis and Invisible Man The tale draws on Dostoevsky s acute observation of Russian life his thoughts on philosophy and social mores and his reactions to the work of Nikolai Gogol At its heart lies Dostoevsky s rumination on the need to establish one s true identity and how society can distort the perception of who one truly is This beautiful pocket sized gift edition contains the classic translation by Constance Garnett a facsimile of Dostoevsky s signature on the title page silver gilded page edges and beautifully designed endpapers Part of the Arcturus Ornate Classics series this book makes wonderful gift for any lover of classic literature ABOUT THE SERIES Arcturus Ornate Classics are beautiful pocket editions of iconic literary works from across history Presented with striking foil cover embossing gilded page edges and deluxe ivory paper these editions make the perfect gift for lovers of classic literature Tanıtım Bülteninden