Translated by Eva Martin. This is one of the most influential works by Dostoyevsky. The story revolves around Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, who upon his return to Russia finds himself in a very complicated situation.
like to see my father allowing any of us to go to the theatre; he'd sooner have killed us, any day. However, I went for an hour or so and saw Nastasia Philipovna, and I never slept a wink all night after. Next morning my father happened to give me two government loan bonds to sell, worth nearly five thousand roubles each. 'Sell them,' said he, 'and then take seven thousand five hundred roubles to the office, give them to the cashier, and bring me back the rest of the ten thousand, without looking in anywhere on the way; look sharp, I shall be waiting for you.' Well, I sold the bonds, but I didn't take the seven thousand roubles to the office; I went straight to the English shop and chose a pair of earrings, with a diamond the size of a nut in each. They cost four hundred roubles more than I had, so I gave my name, and they trusted me. With the earrings I went at once to Zaleshoff's. 'Come on!' I said, 'come on to Nastasia Philipovna's,' and off we went without more ado. I tell you I hadn't a notion of what w
Dostoyevsky's days were not those of political correctness, so readers may feel surprised that the book is actually about a man suffering from epilepsy.
I found this book quite readable and interesting. By far the best rendering of a character, in my opinion, is that of Ippolit's, and next is Prince Muishkin.
Буду лаконичен - это выдающаяся книга великого писателя. Достоевский тонкий психолог, сумевший изобразить действительно всесторонне прекрасного человека.
I didn't like this at all. A Russian acquaintance suggested this as the greatest Russian novel. Large chunks are unreadable, pages and pages of low-quality metaphysics. The plot is not so attractive. The characters remain ciphers throughout. Themes are introduced but then suddenly dropped without resolution. The ending is rushed. I think Dostoyevsky got bored with it himself.
One of the ultimate classics unknown to masses.....
beautiful book enveloping beautiful thoughts...
