Most Popular Books by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"The Gambler" is a novella written by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in 1867. The story revolves around the character of Alexei Ivanovich, a tutor to a Russian general''s family, who becomes embroiled in the world of gambling and casinos. Alexei finds himself caught up in a passionate and self-destructive obsession with roulette, leading to financial ruin and moral decay. The novella explores themes of addiction, risk, and the human propensity for self-destructive behavior. Fyodor Dostoevsky, known for his profound psychological insight and exploration of human nature, drew upon his own experiences with gambling and financial difficulties in writing "The Gambler." The novella is considered a precursor to his later masterpieces like "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov" and is recognized for its exploration of the darker aspects of the human psyche.

A novel of innocence and iniquity, love and murder, by the nineteenth-century Russian author of Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. After several years in a Swiss sanatorium, twenty-six-year-old Prince Myshkin returns to Russian society to collect his rightful inheritance. But he soon crosses paths with the dark Rogozhin, a rich merchant''s son whose desire for Nastasya Filippovna will set the three of them on a tragic course. As author Fyodor Dostoevsky traces the effect of Myshkin''s innocence on the people around him in St. Petersburg, scandal escalates to murder . . . "I think The Idiot to be a masterpiece—flawed, occasionally tedious or overwrought, like many masterpieces—but a fact of world literature just as important as the densely dramatic Brothers Karamazov or the brilliantly subtle and terrifying Devils. In those two novels, as in the simpler Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky had plots and political and religious ideas working together. In The Idiot he is straining to grasp a story and a character converting themselves from Gothic to Saint''s Life on the run. What makes the greatness is double—the character of the prince, and a powerful series of confrontations with death. The true subject of The Idiot is the imminence and immanence of death." —A. S. Byatt, The Guardian "Nothing is outside Dostoevsky''s province. . . . Out of Shakespeare there is no more exciting reading." —Virginia Woolf

Crime and Punishment (pre-reform Russian; post-reform Russian: is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in the literary journal The Russian Messenger in twelve monthly installments during 1866. It was later published in a single volume. It is the second of Dostoevsky''s full-length novels following his return from ten years of exile in Siberia. Crime and Punishment is considered the first great novel of his "mature" period of writing. The novel is often cited as one of the supreme achievements in literature.Crime and Punishment focuses on the mental anguish and moral dilemmas of Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished ex-student in Saint Petersburg who formulates a plan to kill an unscrupulous pawnbroker for her money. Before the killing, Raskolnikov believes that with the money he could liberate himself from poverty and go on to perform great deeds. However, once it is done he finds himself racked with confusion, paranoia, and disgust for his actions. His justifications disintegrate completely as he struggles with guilt and horror and confronts the real-world consequences of his deed.

The Possessed, also known as The Devils or Demons, is a profound exploration of the tumultuous political and philosophical landscape of 19th-century Russia, penned by the masterful author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This captivating novel dissects the nature of ideology and morality through the lens of a group of radicals plotting rebellion against the established order. At its core, the novel illustrates the devastating effects of nihilism and the consequences of abandoning traditional values. The narrative revolves around the character of Nikolai Stavrogin, a brooding and enigmatic figure whose personal struggles reflect the broader societal conflicts of the time. Dostoyevsky weaves an intricate web of relationships and ideological clashes among a cast of vibrant characters, each embodying differing perspectives on politics, religion, and morality. Through their interactions, the author delves into the complexities of human behavior, examining themes of guilt, redemption, and the quest for meaning in a chaotic world. One of the novel’s most striking elements is its portrayal of the seductive but destructive nature of radical ideas. As the characters become increasingly entangled in their revolutionary ambitions, Dostoyevsky raises questions about the morality of their actions and the consequences of their beliefs. The passionate rhetoric and philosophical debates serve as a backdrop against which the tragic events unfold, leading to shocking revelations and heart-wrenching outcomes. With its rich character development and intricate plot, The Possessed offers readers a profound meditation on the clash of ideals and the human psyche’s darker aspects. Dostoyevsky’s masterful storytelling invites readers to reflect on the nature of evil, the complexity of radical thought, and the fragility of human conviction. The novel’s exploration of psychological turmoil and moral ambiguity remains as relevant today as it was during Dostoyevsky’s era, making it a timeless classic in literary history. In this intriguing narrative, Dostoyevsky not only critiques the socio-political movements of his time but also provides a timeless commentary on the struggles of the human spirit. Through The Possessed, readers are challenged to confront their own beliefs and the implications of ideological fervor, ultimately provoking deeper questions about nature, faith, and what it means to be truly alive.

The Grand Inquisitor is a central passage within Dostoyevsky''s The Brothers Karamazov, presented as a parable narrated by Ivan Karamazov. The story is set in Seville during the time of the Inquisition, where Christ returns to Earth and is recognized by the people because of His miracles. However, He is soon arrested by order of the Grand Inquisitor, who accuses Him of threatening the established order of the Church. The Inquisitor argues that humanity, weak and fearful of freedom, does not wish to bear the responsibility of choosing between good and evil. According to him, people prefer to submit to an authority that guarantees bread, security, and guidance, rather than live with the uncertainty of spiritual freedom. In his speech, he claims that the Church has corrected Christ''s work, assuming the power to govern in the name of obedience and stability, even at the cost of betraying the original message. The narrative exposes fundamental tensions between freedom and authority, faith and power, truth and convenience. Christ, confronted with the Inquisitor''s harsh words, remains silent, responding only with a gesture of love: a kiss. This act encapsulates the radical opposition between coercive power and mercy, leaving open the reflection on humanity''s fate and the essence of Christianity. Since its publication, The Grand Inquisitor has been interpreted as one of the most profound meditations on the nature of religious power, human frailty, and the dilemma of freedom, establishing itself as one of the most emblematic and debated passages in world literature.

Demons is an anti-nihilistic novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It is the third of the four great novels written by Dostoyevsky after his return from Siberian exile, the others being Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov. Demons is a social and political satire, a psychological drama, and large scale tragedy.

Notes from Underground is considered one of Dostoyevsky''s most powerful and original stories and marks the starting point of his literary maturity.

Notes from the Underground is a novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Notes is considered by many to be the first existentialist novel. It presents itself as an excerpt from the rambling 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. The first part of the story is told in monologue form, or the underground man''s diary, and attacks emerging Western philosophy, especially Nikolay Chernyshevsky''s What Is to Be Done?. The second part of the book is called "Àpropos of the Wet Snow", and describes certain events that, it seems, are destroying and sometimes renewing the underground man, who acts as a first person, unreliable narrator. Dostoyevsky again confronts the concept of free will and constructs a negative argument to validate free will against determinism in the character Kirillov''s suicide in his novel The Demons. Notes from Underground marks the starting point of Dostoyevsky''s move from psychological and sociological themed novels to novels based on existential and general human experience in crisis. War is described as people''s rebellion against the assumption that everything needs to happen for a purpose, because humans do things without purpose, and this is what determines human history. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche called Dostoevsky "the only psychologist, incidentally, from whom I had anything to learn."

The short works of Dostoevsky exist in the very large shadow of his astonishing longer novels, but they too are among literature''s most revered works and offer keys to understanding the themes in his longer works. Contained in this volume are the short stories "White Nights," "A Disgraceful Affair," and "The Dream of the Ridiculous Man," three of Dostoevsky''s most troubling, moving, and poignant works. Alongside A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR, Harper Perennial will publish the short fiction of Stephen Crane, Herman Melville, Willa Cather, Leo Tolstoy, and Oscar Wilde to be packaged in a beautifully designed, boldly colorful boxset in the aim to attract contemporary fans of short fiction to these revered masters of the form. Also, in each of these selections will appear a story from one of the new collections being published in 2009. A story from Barb Johnson''s forthcoming collection will be printed at the back of this volume.

Driven by the belief that he is meant to kill, Raskolnikov brutally murders an elderly pawnbroker and her sister. But when talk of the unsolved murders consumes the city, Raskolnikov''s guilt overtakes him and he wanders the streets in a feverish state, leading police detective Porfiry suspect his involvement. As the investigation closes in on him, Raskolnikov seeks solace in the company of Sonya, a virtuous prostitute who urges him to confess his crime and seek redemption. Crime and Punishment is a revealing portrait of a man confronting, for the first time, his morality and the moral consequences of his actions. The novel is widely recognized as author Fyodor Dostoyevsky''s argument against the radical behaviours practised by nineteenth-century Russian Nihilists. Be it mystery, romance, drama, comedy, politics, or history, great literature stands the test of time. ClassicJoe proudly brings literary classics to today''s digital readers, connecting those who love to read with authors whose work continues to get people talking. Look for other fiction and non-fiction classics from ClassicJoe.

In June 1862, Dostoevsky left Petersburg on his first excursion to Western Europe. Ostensibly making the trip to consult Western specialists about his epilepsy, he also wished to see firsthand the source of the Western ideas he believed were corrupting Russia. Over the course of his journey he visited a number of major cities, including Berlin, Paris, London, Florence, Milan, and Vienna. He recorded his impressions in Winter Notes on Summer Impressions, which were first published in the February 1863 issue of Vremya (Time), the periodical of which he was the editor.

The Brothers Karamozov was completed in 1880, shortly before Dostoyevsky''s death. A story of parricide and fraternal jealousy, the novel explores themes of atheism, anarchism, and the existence of God. Sayre Street Books offers the world''s greatest literature in easy to navigate, beautifully designed digital editions.

Most significant of the Russian novelist''s early stories (1846) offers straight-faced treatment of hallucinatory theme. Golyadkin senior is ruthlessly persecuted by Golyadkin junior, his double in almost every respect.

''I could see that she was still terribly afraid, but I didn''t soften anything; instead, seeing that she was afraid I deliberately intensified it.'' Based on a St Petersburg news report, Dostoyevsky''s searing tale of a man who drives his wife to suicide.