Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Notes From Underground

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

FROM THE AWARD-WINNING TRANSLATORS RICHARD PEVEAR AND LARISSA VOLOKHONSKY

Dostoevsky's genius is on display in this powerful existential novel.

The apology and confession of a minor mid-19th-century Russian official, Notes from Underground, is a half-desperate, half-mocking political critique and a powerful, at times absurdly comical, account of man's breakaway from society and descent 'underground'.

Reviewed by Michael @ Knowledge Lost on

3 of 5 stars

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As most of you know, I really enjoy Russian literature and Notes from Underground is my first attempt at reading Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I found it a great place to start; it wasn’t very long, it was fairly easy to read and it was still as beautifully written as all the other Russian novels I’ve read. Notes from Underground is the story of a bitter isolated man (known to the world as the underground man) and his monolog about life and the problems with western philosophy. Considered by many as the first real existentialist novel, Notes from Underground is an interesting read; not for everyone but worth it, if you are interested in existentialist or philosophy.

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  • Started reading
  • 12 August, 2011: Finished reading
  • 12 August, 2011: Reviewed