14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful. Even better for Dostoevsky-philes, November 7, 2005
This is a fabulous collection. "The Eternal Husband" is quite interesting and features the trademark Doestoevsian psychological interplay (along the lines of that found between _Crime and Punishment_'s Raskolnikov and Porfiry Petrovich, or _The Idiot_'s Rogozhin and Prince Nikolaevich). However, the short stories included are, imho, superior to "The Eternal Husband." "A Nasty Anecdote" is a very funny satire, especially if the reader is privileged to know a bit about post-"emancipation" Russia. "The Meek One" studies the fascinating, yet highly unhealthy relationship between a husband and wife. At the same time, it meditates on the uses of love in much the manner of _King Lear_. "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man" features the sort of Christ figure found in _The Idiot_ or _The Brothers Karamazov_'s Alyosha. Warning: this story may make you cry.
However wonderful the stories, Richard Pevear's introductory essay alone is worth the price of admission-- with a caveat. If you are familiar with most of Dostoevsky's novels, then you will understand and appreciate Pevear's analysis of Dostoevskian philosophy-- the stories in this collection are even arranged in an order that supports Pevear's theories. However, those unfamiliar with Dostoevsky's work will be very lost.
P.S. These stories are enjoyable for everyone, but those familiar with Dostoevsky will appreciate them even more. I would suggest that Dostoevsky first-timers start with _Crime and Punishment_ or _Notes from Underground_.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great overview for those who have never read Dostoevsky before, July 29, 2005
This review is from: The Eternal Husband (The Art of the Novella) (Paperback)
This is an entertaining novella that will give you an idea of Dostoevsky's genius. Like his great works (Crime and Punishment, Brothers K, The Idiot, The Possessed), it has a lot of psychological power and displays his style of writing. It has enough depth to it that you really get into the story and the characters, unlike some of his short stories. However, it does not have all the philosophy present in his longer works. As Dostoevsky is also known for his philosophical and political debates, some may lament the loss of it in The Eternal Husband. However, many newcomers to Dostoevsky find that the philosophy drags and that they get lost in it. For that reason, The Eternal Husband is an easy read and great for people who have never read Dostoevsky before.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Generally Impressive: A Good Introduction to Dostoevsky, April 6, 2009
The book contains five stories translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky and an introduction by Richard Pevear. The Eternal Husband is 150 pages. The other four stories are short. They are good examples of the writings and the literary techniques of Dostoevsky including the use of dreams.
I have read most of Dostoevsky's major novels. There are about 10 or so available in English, and the present collection is not a substitute for reading the other works. I still like The Gambler and The Brothers Karamazov as his two most interesting works, followed by The Idiot, Crime and Punishment, and Demons. Perhaps The Gambler is not his best work, but it was the first one that I had read. He wrote it with his second wife in 30 days. The Gambler is a short but entertaining - and reflects Dostoevsky`s addiction to gambling. The present works are similar to Notes From the Underground, but less intense, less creative, and more varied in subject matter.
The Eternal Husband involves an extra-marital affair by the male protagonist with a married woman and the subsequent relationship between the man, Velchaninov, and the husband, Pavel Pavlovich. The story is set years later after the death of the wife and uses a dream sequence near the beginning. It reflects a love triangle situation found in his other writings and is loosely related to the circumstances of Dostoevsky`s first marriage, although not identical.
Another story is The Dream of a ridiculous Man. Dostoevsky uses the dream sequences as a vehicle to tell a utopian story about an ideal society. Again, the dream is a literary mechanism used by Dostoevsky. This is related to the short but unusual story Bobok. It is set in a cemetery where the dead are holding conversations. The characters use flights of fancy, dreams, and communicate with the dead. The dead characters lack morals, even dead.
The other two stories, A Nasty Anecdote and The Meek One, are more conventional stories. The first involves an official who accidentally attends the wedding of a poor government worker, a man who works in his department. The official drinks too much and causes much commotion and embarrasses the groom and the wedding party. In short, he makes a fool of himself. Dostoevsky touches on his themes of the disintegration of human life and the use of the "unexpected" gathering to expose false ideas and situations.
The Meek One is about a man who is trying to deal with the suicide of his wife. Again, the story is short. But, he uses the "stream of consciousness" technique - possibly one of the first uses of the technique in the modern literature according to Pevear - years before Joyce.
5 stars and a surprisingly good selection of short stories.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
