Idiot (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

A revealing classic

This is great intellectual work that we should to take seriously in general, a book to read with a serious mindset. Then you will understand the unique nature of Russia which our western minds have difficulties to comprehend. This strange land called Russia that has a bigger soul than any other is explored here in this story in a way that only Dostoyevsky unveils. Read it and you will finish it enriched. The Idiot is a thoroughly enjoyable novel of ideas that explores the nature of man and society and gives you a better idea of man and his actions. You shouldn't find it strange that the characters are philosophical, impulsive, introspective, energetic, colorful, and extreme in their passions. That is Russia, a land of extremes. This book is likely to impact you. It is one of the few of our times.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Enduring and powerful portrayal of the price of kindnenss

I read this book around 20 years ago. Unlike many books, this has never left me. In fact, it has become part of my theology in a way. Kindness, love, forgiveness, mercy, are, have always been, and always will be looked upon with contempt by the majority of the world. Yet, in reading the Idiot, unlike some readers, I was not left with a feeling of pessimism, but of confidence that if you can bear the contempt of your fellow man, you can easily be great. Truly, love man but not his praises.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Mastery of Dialogue

Truly one of the finer novels ever written. The full development of characters and plot through dialogue is a triumph upon itself. It's a tricky read, but it's a great introduction to dostoevsky. The culmination of the plot at the end is truly a treat.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A beautiful and horrifying masterwork of "psychic violence."

Rarely does one have the experience to read a novel that truly packs a shocking ending. Being Dostoevsky's more overshadowed works, "The Idiot" manages to do exactly that.

In the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, Richard Pevear writes in his introduction that while the novel features the most morally sound character in Dostoevsky's works, the ending is perhaps the darkest of all his other novels. This is a serious understatement, to say the very least!

While there are very few instances of physical violence, the kind of psychic violence perpetrated in this novel is believable to the reader and absolutely devastating to the characters. Nastasya Fillipovna, the novel's would-be heroine, is the best example of this kind of "psychic violence" I speak of, as she has an utterly explosive effect each time she appears in a scene. Later on in the story, both Ippolit and Lebdev refer to being "slapped in the face," but "morally, not physically." These kinds of moral attacks run rampant throughout the novel and the effects upon the characters are far more damaging than physical trauma... with the protagonist himself being the greatest victim of this kind of violence.

The "moral beauty" and ultimate fate of Lev Nicholievich Myshkin is like a Christian allegory and a Lovecraft horror mixed into the same narrative. He is a moral superior, a spiritual superman, who gives so freely of his time and his fortune to people who otherwise deserve neither. The Prince's singular and fatal flaw was his inability to accept a sense of moral superiority. While this would have likely provided the perspective he sorely needed to escape his fate, it would also have been cognitively impossible to remain in this state of superiority while consciously acknowledging it. This novel plays out the deep moral paradox; that we can be good only if we rigorously question our goodness. The strength a truly good person can lend to another may make that good person vulnerable in many ways. "The Idiot" dares to explore these deep themes, while delivering a dramatic narrative that is horrifying, heartbreaking and classically tragic.

Though I am an avid reader, I can honestly say that I have not been so powerfully moved by a novel in a long, long time. "The Idiot" encompasses romance, class warfare, political philosophy, Christian philosophy and social norms in a way that forces the thoughtful reader to examine morality and madness in a way that to me is utterly unique in literature. For that, I give "The Idiot" my highest possible recommendation. I view this novel as a standard by which moralist narratives must be measured.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

a thought provoking work

i'm a tenth grader who was assigned to read three books of similar theme for a paper. one of the books i chose was the idiot. though extremly wordy, the things the reader takes out the book make it all worthwhile. for sure, when one is reading the book, it can seem to be a drag, but once the book is finished, it makes u want to open it up and reread it, so thought provoking and masterful is the weaving of dostoeveskys message. it is a fantastic book and one ill have to pick up in later years, perhaps when my own reading level has become on par to that of the book.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

One of my favourite books

This is the simplest and most beautiful of all Dostoevsky's books, and perhaps also the most approachable to modern readers.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Entertaining and Enlightening-A Classic!

Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Idiot is my favorite of his novels. The characters are so real, and the story is so absorbing that one almost feels as if they are a first person observer. One cannot help but become attached to Prince Myshkin who is naive and loving to the extreme. The book has impacted my life in several ways, not the least of which is that it woke me up to the truly amazing author that is Dostoevsky.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

great book

other than the unusual side stories that deviates from the plot, it is a wonderful story. very dramatic and even on the boderline melodramtic. the writing itself is easy to read and it really drew me into the emotions of the characters. speaking of characters, they are definitely one to remember. i would recommend this book to all but i feel many people will be agitated by the unecessary side stories with all the philosophies that aren't really revlevant to the story.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What the Russian critiques say

Dostoyevski's pshychology is dark and outdated. This is a work of a self-indulging author, at the expence of the reader, whom the author considers the idiot. - Well, you got the idea. Perhaps, all of that makes some sence. Yet, unless you feel annoyed by the constant preachings of the main character, endless philosophy coming from every page of this endless book, and affairs which do not appear to be realistic, you might also enjoy all of that.

1 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

pretty good

i thought it was going to be depressing but it actually wasn't, atleast the way dostoyevsky described the events. so many nice twists, good book, recommended, esp for guys who have to deal with girls like aglaya...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Max

Keeps crying

Holly

Ya here?

Hannah

Night!

The Idiot is one of the greatest novels ever written, and I high

The Idiot is one of the greatest novels ever written, and I highly recommend everyone read it. However, you should be careful of which translation you read. DO NOT read the Constance Garnett translation, of this or any other book. Garnett is known to have taken substantial liberties with both the text and tone of all the novels she translated. Instead I recommend either the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, or the Carlisle translation, links to which I have posted in the sidebar.

Excellent hard cover clasic-book for the price!

Long and slow at times, but a must-read for educated people.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

A revealing classic

This is great intellectual work that we should to take seriously in general, a book to read with a serious mindset. Then you will understand the unique nature of Russia which our western minds have difficulties to comprehend. This strange land called Russia that has a bigger soul than any other is explored here in this story in a way that only Dostoyevsky unveils. Read it and you will finish it enriched. The Idiot is a thoroughly enjoyable novel of ideas that explores the nature of man and society and gives you a better idea of man and his actions. You shouldn't find it strange that the characters are philosophical, impulsive, introspective, energetic, colorful, and extreme in their passions. That is Russia, a land of extremes. This book is likely to impact you. It is one of the few of our times.

Good Book for the Educated Reader

I must say that this is a very interesting book. The in depth analysis of the main character (Prince Myshkin) kept me captivated for hours. I must say however that while reading this book it can be helpful to keep some sort of log of the characters. Because there is a multitude of characters and each of these characters has a full name, shortened name, and nickname things can get confusing. Also, there are many footnotes (this is understandable because of the book having been translated) which leave the reader constantly flipping around to read them. However, if you can triumph over these things, this is a truely wonderful book that explores an entirely fascinating subject.

Penetrating look at nineteenth century Russian society

In order to completely enjoy 'The Idiot', you need two things: patience and more patience! Although the reading wasn't particularly difficult, it is dense, wordy prose that totally immerses you into the setting. Like 'Crime and Punishment', the action in 'The Idiot' is kept to a minimum in lieu of deep, psychological reflection. This technique makes the journey through the 600+ pages both compelling and worthwhile. It will change the way you view the human condition. Some advice: you may want to 'warm up' to this book by reading 'Notes from Underground' and 'Crime and Punishment' first to get a sense of Dostoevsky's style.

The Idiot: more than a classic.

The Idiot is a book often assigned in schools, but rarely read because it sounds like a boring old 'classic.' Nothing could be further from the truth. Though The Brothers Karamazov and Crime & Punishment are more famous, The Idiot represents perhaps the purest expression of FMD's uncategorizable worldview. The title character is an epileptic (like the author) who is at once guileless and insightful. His candor and forgivingness sets him apart from society, making him an object of both fascination and resentment. Though a highly 'ideological' novel, it is also a soap opera, full of affaires, intrigues, and violent episodes. It's a page-turner you can re-read every few years.

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