The Best Short Stories of Dostoevsky (Modern Library) (Hardcover)

by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Author), David Magarshack (Translator) "It was a lovely night, one of those nights, dear reader, which can only happen when you are young..." (more)
Key Phrases: Julian Mastakovich, Anton Antonovich, Astafy Ivanovich (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Russian

From the Back Cover
The Modern Library of the World's Best Books
"The irrational is no longer the novelty it was, and we are consequently less struck by the madness of Dostoevsky than we used to be....Now, whenever I open a novel of his, my first impression
is one of realism and sanity."

--V. S. Pritchett

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Modern Library (September 5, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679600205
• ISBN-13: 978-0679600206
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #941,238 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dostoevsky's Grim View of Mankind, May 7, 2001

By	Bryan A. Pfleeger (Metairie, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This collection of six short stories and the novella Notes from the Underground give the reader a glimpse into the mind of one of the 19th Centuries greatest authors. The collection literally covers the entire career of the novelist. The stories offer compact detailed descriptions of life in St. Petersburg at the end of the last century.

While the stories are certainly not happy they are worth reading. The selections include the following: White Nights: a love story between a dreamer and a woman he meets and loses in a time span of 4 days. This story hearkens to later dreamers in Dostoevsky's writings including the Underground Man.

In The Honest Thief we see a more mature writer grappling with the idea of guilt associated with a minor crime. The honest thief of the title is Yemalyan who may be the genesis for later characters who are unable to avoid crime that surrounds them

The Christmas Tree and a Wedding is a straight forward story with a twist that is almost O. Henry-ish in its finale. It is probably the most perfect story in the collection.

The Peasant Marey is a recollection from the author's youth which was written during a prison stay. The purpose is to show the nobility of the peasant class.

Notes From Underground has been reviewed earlier and needs no more discussion at this point.

A Gentle Creature is an excellent example of realism. The story recounts the tortured thoughts of a less than perfect husband on the occassion of his young wife's suicide.

The Dream of a Ridiculous Man recounts Dostoevsky's final analysis of the human condition. Man is essentially good but can be corrupted bt reason and science.

On the whole this is a good introduction to the author's shorter works that with careful reading can be if not joyful quite meaningful.

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant stories replete with meaning, November 2, 2008

By	J. Harrison (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a fantastic collection of short works by one of the finest writers in history. While my favorites were "Notes from the Underground" and "The Dream of a Ridiculous Man," each of these stories contains vintage Dostoevsky--memorable characters, readability, a touch of humor and, most importantly, profound insights into human nature. While not as powerful as his longer works, these stories are sure to please any fan or even those who have a casual interest in Dostoevsky. Highly recommended.