Customer Reviews

Notes from Underground; The Double (Penguin Classics)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I put down this book in an uneasy state. From his obsessive compulsive behavior when faced with any minor social situation to his ultimate, passionate, desperate encounter with the prostitute, Liza, the nameless Underground Man, in my opinion, is a culmination of all of Mankind's deepest, most cursed darknesses and fearful flaws. His seclusion from society allows him to comment on society "looking through the cracks" and thus gives the reader a morbidly realistic and accurate view of what our society truly is made of: boldly masked cowards. For anyone who's willing to think and to accept Dostoevsky's cynicism as possible reality, I highly recommend this terrifically intricate book. Whether you finish the book with passionate love and pity for the character or profound hate for him, it is worthwhile all the same.

There is no greater writer than Dostoyevsky. He captures emotions in his works and this is what makes him timeless. Though this may me a "lonely" book, it takes you to a desolate place and teaches you of the coldness of reality. I was moved by this piece, and also found great humor in some of the darkest moments in the story.

Dostoyevsky's dark and genius satire spares none of his intellectual enemies the whip.

In the space of barely a hundred and twenty pages, Dostoyevsky reduces l'homme de la nature et la verité to a snivelling anti-ideal paradox acting only out of "spite" and "wickedness".

Though largely famous for long novels, Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote a number of notable novellas, of which The Double is an early example and Notes from Underground is the masterpiece. This collection includes both, which is not only convenient but a positive bargain. It is an ideal place to start for those curious about Dostoevsky but intimidated by his thick masterpieces and also has a wealth of supplemental material to attract the more dedicated.

Though an early piece and not as well-crafted as Notes or other subsequent masterworks, The Double manages to put a new spin on the doppelganger phenomenon. In it, Dostoyevsky very skillfully portrays one man's lonely descent into madness -- and manages to be screamingly funny while doing so.

A vivid depiction of the dark side of human nature, Notes is a great classic that perfectly evokes the feelings of isolation, despair, narcissism, and paranoia that continue to afflict the masses. Though very short, one feels on completing it that one has read a very profound book. It is one of the best and most essential short novels ever. Dostoevsky is known for stunning penetration into human nature, and his mastery showed here for the first time. Notes touches on many profoundly important issues: philosophical, religious, social, political, etc. Indeed, it was right at the heart of the era's prevalent intellectual modes and remains relevant today. It also works as a springboard for Dostoevsky's later, more ambitious novels. Part of the reason it works so well is that the narrator is so recognizably, touchingly, and pathetically human. Anyone who considers him or herself an outcast, who feels as if he or she has never been able to fit in, who is uncomfortable in social situations, feels morally or intellectually superior for unknown reasons, is overly emotional and susceptible to constant depression - or any such thing - will undoubtedly identify and sympathize. Another reason it works so well is the writing style. Far from traditional novel or documentary style, it gives the impression that one is reading a record of a person's private thoughts. We see the thoughts as they come to the character, not in any linear form. He may well be neurotic, psychotic, manic depressive, bi-polar, or egocentric - but is human nonetheless. This is a singular, profound, and important literary work of unique value that sticks a penetrating and insightful knife straight through human nature's heart. It is an essential read for all; even those who will despise it must deal with it, such is its importance and influence. Anyone looking to do so might as well get this edition so as to have an excellent companion story.

Penguin classic has included two of Fyodor Dostoevsky's greatest short pieces of fiction in one volume.
"Notes from Underground" was published in 1864 shortly before the novelist produced his classic novel "Crime and Punishment". This shorter work informs the characterization of Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment." The anonymous narrator presents himself in print as a person who is deeply disillusioned with his life. He is a failure in life, love and quest for meaning in a St. Petersburg fog of bureacracy and poverty. He meets a prostitute named Lisa but she disappears in a swirling St. Petersburg fog. He views himself as an "insect". The work is a precursor of such works as Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis" in which the main charcter is turned into a beetle. Dostoevsky is not for those seeking a cheerful, sunlit read on a lovely beach! The narrator of the tale is very skeptical of human goodness. He is distrustful of everyone believing that life is a succession of troubles until the final chapter ends in the obscurity of the grave.
The early story "The Double" is the most interesting of the two included in this Penguin Classics Edition. The tale focuses on a nonentity named Golyadkin who is tortured by the appearance of a man who is his exact image! (He is called Goldyadkin Jr!). Golyadkin is a wretch of an individual. He reminds this reader of a character out of Gogol who specialized in portraying the lives of St. Petersburg's poor caught in the web of Tsarist governmental ministries. The tale ends in a macabre way as Golyadkin is taken away to what is, probably, a mental institution.
Does Golyadkin Jr. exist or is he a figment of the imagination of Golyadkin Sr? We not know. This tale is written as the fog of St. Petersburg wraps the main character in obscurity and despair.
These two tales are good introductions to Dostoevsky's shorter fiction. The themes evident in these tales are:
a. A feeling of despairing anomie
b. A person who believes he is trapped like an insect in the webs of modern society.
c. A belief that life is difficult, complex and often confusing to ordinary people.

"The Double" is a delightful tale written very much in the manner of Gogol. In his "Lectures on Russian Literature," Nabokov says, "The very best thing he [Dostoyevsky] ever wrote seems to me to be 'The Double.' It is the story -- told very elaborately, in great, almost Joycean detail ..., and in a style intensely saturated with phonetic and rhythmical expressiveness -- of a government clerk who goes mad, obsessed by the idea that a fellow clerk has usurped his identity. It is a perfect work of art, that story ...." But Nabokov does not think so well of Dostoyevsky's other works. He finds his work wanting both in art and in genius. Dostoyevsky was too much influenced by mystery and sentimental novels.

Perhaps Nabokov's dismissal of "Notes from Underground" is appropriate from a purely literary point of view, but the novel is of interest from a philosophical point of view. In the first part of the novel, the narrator is speaking to an imaginary audience. The narrator is obsessed with free will and is at pains to argue against the Enlightenment view that freedom and happiness are complementary. He is spiteful, not from some personality disorder, but rather from his philosophy. The second part involves detailed, and at times humorous, remembered humiliations. And then the noble prostitute. As Nabokov says at this point, "The conversations are very garrulous and very poor, but please go on to the bitter end. Some of you may like it more than I do."

Dostoyevski's underground man character, although conceived in 1864, presages by more than 50 years the alienation and disaffection that became so widespread in the 20th century, especially in the so-called "lost generation" that grew up between the two world wars. As such, it became the pattern for generations of other literary anti-heroes whose existential angst was to reverberate through literature for the next hundred years and beyond. Overall, still a great classic and one whose philosophical and literary influences still resonate today.

Dostoyevsky is of interest for another reason that has only recently come to the attention of medical science. Based on the notes in his diaries, Dostoyevsky may have had the very unusual neurological condition known as temporal-lobe epilepsy. This form of epilepsy produces no motor convulsions or seizures as in the classical Jacksonian epilepsy that is so well known. Rather, the effects are on the person's mental and emotional state.

In his notebooks Dostoyevsky reported experiencing visions and emotional states of such an intense nature, saying that that were so ecstatic that one would be willing give up one's life to experience it one more time, that it seems likely he did indeed have this rare neurological syndrome. It can produce intensely vivid imagery and visions, and ecstatic and euphoric emotional states. However, in some cases, it also produces uncontrollable rage and violence, but it appears that Dostoyevsky had the more pleasant and benign form of this disease.

Having studied the excerpts from his diaries describing these experiences and compared them to contemporary patients who have been diagnosed with the disease, the evidence seems compelling to me too that he did indeed have this condition. How it ultimately affected his writing I don't know, but perhaps this will be something that will enable us to gain further insight into his writings in the future.

This collection contains one of my favorite of Dostoyevsky's works,Notes from the Underground. With that beautiful air of complete cynicism and hate for everything in ones life, told ironically by the narrater who partly resembles all of us in this society and still means as much now as it did when it was first published. It has influenced so many writers, musicians, artists and us average ants, and really could not have been translated better.
Now the Double is probably the reason why I didn't rate this five stars. It has some interesting ideas and does show a young Dostoyevsky maturing into the writer he would become, but I do find it a bit lacking in many aspects, but it certainly can be forgiven, it does make me wonder why they would put these two works together as a whole collection though.
I would recommend it for Notes on its own, and the Double is interesting to get a glimpse of the young hero of russian literature to come.

These two shorter works by Dostoevesky are astounding, groundbreaking works. A great place to start if you are a newcomer to the man and they are also fascinating to revisit when you've read his longer tomes. The 2 stories will make you think about reality on other levels, not only upon its surface reflections. Is Dostoevesky really being serious? or are these dark ironic glimpses into the nature of human beings something richly comical, an entertaining description of life made by a penetrating intellect .

To commence, I am blown away by the scale of Dostoevsky. His characters are alive. His St. Petersburg is bustling and his words eloquent. As a first time Fyodor reader, I see no better place to start. This penguin classics edition contains expertly translated copies of "Notes from Underground", "The Double" and some extra history of the author (time line etc...). "Notes from Underground" starts with the rambling of an anonymous character who shares his sadness and angst of being oppressed by society. Albeit a tedious start, "Notes from Underground" continues to the second part, detailing his reappearance in society and the inherent problems. "The Double" (although I knew most of the plot because of some other reviews) was more chilling, with more drama and impact. It explores the life a man possessed by his twin double. A twin myself, although fraternal, imaginative thoughts added to the mysterious nature of the story. The themes of both stories are existentialist and further probe the human consciousness. If you have read my other reviews, this is a great follow-up or precursor to "The Stranger" by Albert Camus.
Thank you for reading,
C.K.