Tag Archives: Dostoevsky
Humiliated and Insulted by Dostoevsky
“There’s a peculiar gratification to be derived from the sudden tearing-down of a mask, from the cynicism of not deigning to betray any sense of shame in suddenly exposing oneself to another indecently.” I wanted to read Dostoevsky’s novel Humiliated … Continue reading
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The Eternal Husband by Dostoevsky Part I
“She was faithful to her lover–though only until he bored her.” The Eternal Husband, written by Dostoevsky in 1869, explores the relationship between two men–Velchaninov, a middle-aged bachelor who suffers from hypochondria, and Trusotsky, a widower from the provinces. The two men … Continue reading
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Dostoevsky Translations Part II
Here are two more passages comparing translations of Dostoevsky’s The Demons The Constance Garnett translation free on the kindle: Part I, Chapter 5–The Subtle Serpent: Varvara Petrovna rang the bell and threw herself into an easy chair by the window. “Sit … Continue reading
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Dostoevsky Translations Part I
The issue of Dostoevsky translations arose recently, so here are some comparative samples for anyone interested: The Possessed or The Devils translated by Constance Garnett. This is available free on the kindle: Chapter 1: In undertaking to describe the recent … Continue reading
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Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions by Dostoevsky Pt II
In part I, I mentioned that when I picked up Dostoevsky’s Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions I anticipated reading a travel book. I was completely wrong; I see the book as primarily political but couched with satire. So while reading … Continue reading
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Winter Thoughts on Summer Impressions by Dostoevsky Pt I
We are all familiar with the way in which DVDS are released with a certain packaging of special features to tempt us to buy a particular release (I’m thinking Kino or Criterion). This idea came to mind when I picked up my Oneworld Classics edition … Continue reading
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On Writers: Dostoevsky’s Crime & Punishment
After reading Dostoevsky’s The Demons, a few years ago, I felt traumatized. That’s not to say I didn’t like it. Actually I loved the book, but at the same time, I felt the building of a slow, agonising dread. I knew a … Continue reading
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The Presentation of Evil in Literature: Panyushin, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche and Raymond….
Russian journalist Valery Panyushin, who writes for Kommersant, recently spoke on Radio Kultura. I’m paraphrasing a translation here in which Panyushin states that there are “two basic cultural traditions in Europe. One is called, conditionally, the ancient Greek, and the other is … Continue reading
Filed under Dostoevsky, Nietzsche, On Writers, Raymond Derek
Notes From Underground by Dostoevsky Pt II
Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground is divided into two sections- I: Underground and II: Apropos of the Wet Snow. The first section is set in the 1860s when the narrator has retired on a small inheritance and is now forty years old. The second … Continue reading
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Notes From Underground by Dostoevsky Pt I
“Finally: I’m bored, and I constantly do nothing. And writing things down really seems like work. They say work makes a man good and honest. Well, here’s a chance at least.” A few years ago, I read Dostoevsky’s The Demons, and … Continue reading
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