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The Idiot (Penguin Classics)
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Product Description
Inspired by an image of Christ's suffering, Dostoyevsky set out to create a protagonist with "a truly beautiful soul" and to trace the fate of such an individual as he comes into contact with the brutal reality of contemporary society. The novel begins when the innocent epileptic Prince Myshkin - the 'idiot' - arrives in St Petersburg and finds himself drawn into a web of violent and passionate relationships that leads to blackmail, betrayal and eventually murder.
About the Author
Moscow-born Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) served time in a convict prison for his political alliances, and in his later years his passion for gambling led him deeply into debt. His novels include The Devils and The Brothers Karamazov.
David McDuff has translated widely from the Russian, including for Penguin Classics, Crime and Punishment and Tolstoy's Kreutzer Sonata.
Introducer William Mills Todd III is Professor of Slavic Languages at Harvard.
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First Sentence
At about nine o'clock one morning, at the end of November, during a thaw, a train of the St Petersburg-Warsaw line was approaching St Petersburg at full steam. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
At about nine o'clock one morning, at the end of November, during a thaw, a train of the St Petersburg-Warsaw line was approaching St Petersburg at full steam. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Reading about Prince Myshkin (the `idiot') and the characters orbiting his life felt like being imprisoned in some surreal reality game show, where the participants were infused with varying degrees of personality disorder, paranoid delusions, and fits of manic euphoria. Consequently the substance of the narrative is immersed in an oily sea of wilful gossip, self-interest and brinkmanship. For instance the birthday scene, culminating in a wrapped bundle of bank notes, nonchalantly discarded into a fire by the manipulative and power crazed Nastasya, is witnessed by a seething mass of guests itching and sweating in anxious excitement as the flames eat into the precious fortune. Along with the spectators I wanted to thrust my hand into the burning grate before all was lost. This example is one of many in the novel and Dostoevsky exhibits supreme control of the emotional forces that are thrust upon the Christ-like Prince. Indeed Myshkin often seems to be the victim yet it is his presence that dictates the destructive actions of the people around him. In this game there are no winners! An epileptic masterpiece that displays the cost of greed, uncontrollable passion and misdirected ambition.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The Idiot is one of the finest novels in history, perhaps the finest. In this novel, the enigma that is often referred to as "THE RUSSIAN SOUL" is variously dissected through the different characters and more so by the hero of the story Prince Myshkin. In its simplest explanation, it is a soul with good intentions but faulty in executing the intentions. It is a soul in conflict, driven by the zest for life and a search of its meaning. Certainly the most Christian of Dostoyevsky's novels, THE IDIOT portrays how disastrous a good life can be. Rich in characters, this classic centers mostly on the good Prince Myshkin, a recovering epileptic with a rich soul who is easily perceived as an 'idiot' by the casual observer who focuses on his childlike manners especially in expressing himself and his naivety in dealing with people. But then a closer look reveals that his manners are the reflections of his honest soul, the wealth of his big heart and the broadness of his mind.
And only in deeper engagements does it become evident that Myshkin however has superior understanding and expression, which makes him modest and intelligent rather than stupid. His simple, honest and decent life is succinctly conveyed in his interactions, generating both love and resentment. The saintly Myshkin however struggles to deal with a materialistic world which has no place for the virtuous, and to reconcile his passionate and compassionate love for two women. But the love of the women corrupt and drives men out of their minds. Nastasia Filipovna whom Myshkin has compassionate love for is a tormented soul that can only love Christ and in Myshkin she found that Christ-like figure. Her rival Aglia has Myshkin's heart but failed to understand Myshkin's serene love for her and abandons him to the destructive love of Nastasia.
This is great intellectual work that we should to take seriously in general, a book to read with a serious mindset. Then you will understand the unique nature of Russia which our western minds have difficulties to comprehend. This strange land called Russia that has a bigger soul than any other is explored here in this story in a way that only Dostoyevsky unveils. Read it and you will finish it enriched. The Idiot is a thoroughly enjoyable novel of ideas that explores the nature of man and society and gives you a better idea of man and his actions. You shouldn't find it strange that the characters are philosophical, impulsive, introspective, energetic, colorful, and extreme in their passions. That is Russia, a land of extremes. This book is likely to impact you. It is one of the few of our times. I highly recommend it along with THE UNION MOUJIK.Also recommended: THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV,THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
And only in deeper engagements does it become evident that Myshkin however has superior understanding and expression, which makes him modest and intelligent rather than stupid. His simple, honest and decent life is succinctly conveyed in his interactions, generating both love and resentment. The saintly Myshkin however struggles to deal with a materialistic world which has no place for the virtuous, and to reconcile his passionate and compassionate love for two women. But the love of the women corrupt and drives men out of their minds. Nastasia Filipovna whom Myshkin has compassionate love for is a tormented soul that can only love Christ and in Myshkin she found that Christ-like figure. Her rival Aglia has Myshkin's heart but failed to understand Myshkin's serene love for her and abandons him to the destructive love of Nastasia.
This is great intellectual work that we should to take seriously in general, a book to read with a serious mindset. Then you will understand the unique nature of Russia which our western minds have difficulties to comprehend. This strange land called Russia that has a bigger soul than any other is explored here in this story in a way that only Dostoyevsky unveils. Read it and you will finish it enriched. The Idiot is a thoroughly enjoyable novel of ideas that explores the nature of man and society and gives you a better idea of man and his actions. You shouldn't find it strange that the characters are philosophical, impulsive, introspective, energetic, colorful, and extreme in their passions. That is Russia, a land of extremes. This book is likely to impact you. It is one of the few of our times. I highly recommend it along with THE UNION MOUJIK.Also recommended: THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV,THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES, CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a superb book. Yes, it's repetitive, obsessive and claustrophobic, and it's certainly not easy going. But this is a classic study of bourgeois hypocrisy, deceit and corruption, with a quite brilliant central character (prince Myshkin, The Idiot) and a supportng cast of neurotics, narcissists, snobs and exploiters to whom the prince holds up the mirror of naive honesty and depth of character.
The Idiot is a tough read, but Dostoevsky's literary genius makes it worthwhile to persevere to the end of this dark and uncompromising book.
The Idiot is a tough read, but Dostoevsky's literary genius makes it worthwhile to persevere to the end of this dark and uncompromising book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Only Good Man
Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Idiot
Dostoyevsky wrote The Idiot during his sojourn in Europe (1867-71) where he had fled to escape his creditors. Read more
Dostoyevsky wrote The Idiot during his sojourn in Europe (1867-71) where he had fled to escape his creditors. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. D. James
Glad I read it, wouldn't read again
Dostoyevsky sets the scene beautifully throughout the first block of four in the idiot. He creates a sympathetic cast of characters with a definitive protagonist and antagonist set... Read more
Published 13 months ago by George Sarell
The Sublime Idiot
Dowden is entirely correct stating The Idiot is not an introductory platform into the mind of Dostoevsky. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Robert Barlow
He doesn't know the rules !
I must admit that I found "The Idiot" to be one of the most difficult books that I have ever read. It certainly wasn't a page turner for me by any means and it took me several... Read more
Published 20 months ago by L. Davidson
Disappointing
I had just read Crime and Punishment and really enjoyed it, although I felt Dostoyevsky is not so good with characterisation. Often characters were mouthpieces for ideas. Read more
Published on 10 May 2009 by I. Pozsonyi
Fun In St Petersburg
Dostoyevsky's talent is unique in that he manages to convey all the subtleties and complexities of everyday life and human social interaction in stories that are peopled almost... Read more
Published on 18 Sep 2008 by Miracle
Inspiring
Perhaps the only criticism I have for the book is the ending. Indeed, Dostoevsky himself seems to have been under pressure when completing the novel. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2007 by Ipchuk
Confused
I've read this twice now. Once when I was around 15 and once at the age of thirty something ( yes, I'm being coy ). Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2007 by K. Tune
A revealing classic
The Idiot is one of the finest novels in history, perhaps the finest. In this novel, the enigma that is often referred to as "THE RUSSIAN SOUL" is variously dissected through the... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2006 by Sancho Mahle
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