Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20955 in Books
• Published on: 1996-12-31
• Original language: Russian
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Synopsis
Five classic short stories by Dostoevsky showcase the author's strange and intoxicating literary style.

Customer Reviews

Perfect Dosteovsky
'The Eternal Husband' is justifiably regarded as Dostoevsky's most perfect work. Gone are all the rambling subplots and diversionary characters - here he focuses on one (albeit bizarre) tale, and tells it in a pure and focused way. The two protagonists are essentially locked in a duel, with neither of them fully comprehending the nature of the duel until the final denouement. We see how people can behave in entirely irrational ways, driven by their subconscious grievances and desires. It's a natural extension of Notes from Underground, FD's other short masterpiece, but transcends even that work in it's ability to subtly disturb the reader, and set him/her thinking deeply about the way in which human being behave and interact with each other.

The other stories in this volume are all excellent as well, especially the opener 'A Nasty Anecdote' which is marvellously amusing while at the same time quite horrible as the main character spirals helplessly into a cringingly embarassing situtaion of his own making.

The translation (as with all their other Dostoevsky translations) is spot on, and if you are at all interested in Dostoevsky's works then this is a must.

The Best of The Master?
Although not the greatest collection of his work, this is quite good. The cover art--a Magritte reproduction--is the ideal visual counterpart to Dostoievski's text, for both artists were intent upon revealing what lay beneath the surface of the human psyche. This collection is an excellent representation of stories that have not been anthologized as frequently as Dostoievski's most famous works. However, not each of these new translations has been accomplished with the greatest skill. The text would also benefit from a more thorough introduction, more detailed notes, and perhaps a broader context for the individual stories. Despite these inadequacies, however, the work is Dostoievski's and therefore masterful. Selections such as "A Nasty Anecdote" remind us that he could write not only brilliant, tragic, serious novels but also witty, occasionally disturbing stories. If you like Gogol, Bulgakov, Kafka, or Borges, this collection is for you. If you like great writing, this collection is for you.

So read, open your mind to new worlds and learn.

Sustained brilliance.
His ability to move the reader with his seemingly awkward writing style is a joy, the apathy he is able to create is sometimes shocking. The psychological insight is of a depth unseen in any other writer's work, he puts into words the feelings you know in your heart but had never been able to formulate in your mind. Anyone interested in learning something about themselves shouldn't deny themselves this gem.