Devils (Oxford World's Classics)
by Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Book Summary Information
Author: Fyodor DostoevskyTranslator: Michael R. Katz
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-07-15
ISBN: 0199540497
Number of pages: 800
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Book Reviews of Devils (Oxford World's Classics)
Book Review: Dark Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Fyodor Dostoyevesky, perhaps the greatest novelist of all-time, has a canon of mostly very long books delving deeply into dark psychological corners. He shed long-dormant light on such subjects as the conscience, madness, the existence of God, family and criminal psychology, etc. Similarly, Devils explores the tendency of people, particularly young ones, toward nihilism. Dostoyevsky shows nihilism's inherent hollowness, that it always leads to the same place in the end. As Don Henley once sang, "It's another hollow rebellion/As rebellions often are/Just another raging tempest/In a jar." Many have observed how Dostoyevsky foresaw the philosophy of Nietzsche, yet for all their darkness and social criticism, many overlook the fact that both, in essence, affirm life. For proof, one need only to look at the fate of characters who deny life. To both Dostoyevsky and Nietzsche, it is not only wrong to live merely for a higher power or hope of eternal reward but also to live for an "ism": atheism, idealism, anarchism, nihilism, etc. This is Dostoyevsky's attempt to strike out at the materialism infesting Russia and to break out of negative modes of thinking. To paraphrase his famous letter, modern nihilists do not deny the existence of God; that is done. They deny with all their might God's creation.
Pity the poor revolutionary who tries to incite a rebellion while denying the very means he must use to do so. Neil Peart once wrote, "Changes aren't permanent/But change is." Anything that does not change becomes stagnant, but we must remember to affirm life. Thankfully we have Dostoyevsky to remind us.
This brilliant novel also explores other subjects: the responsibility of one generation for the next, the responsibility of teachers for students, and above all, the responsibility of philosophers for their ideas. It is a must for any reader of classics or Russian literature.
Summary of Devils (Oxford World's Classics)
The third of Dostoevsky's five major novels, Devils (1871-2), also known as The Possessed, is at once a powerful political tract and a profound study of atheism, depicting the disarray that follows the appearance of a band of modish radicals in a small provincial town. This new translation includes the chapter "Stavrogin's confession," initially censored by Dostoevsky's publisher.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
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