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My Favorite Dostoyevsky Novels
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Tags: Dostoyevsky, Dostoevsky, Russian literature, Russian novels, best novels
The 19th century Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky is one of my favorite novelists. The psychological depth of his characters, who range from pure saints to unremorseful murderers, is unparalleled in literature.
| 1. | "Crime and Punishment". All of Dostoyevsky's novels make you think, but this one especially has made me spend many hours contemplating the criminal mind, the possibility of reform and rehabilitation for people who do heinous acts, and the hidden psychological punishments evildoers must face. |
| 2. | "The Idiot". Prince Myshkin is one of the saintliest characters in literature. He is no idiot, but purity and sincerity are unusual qualities in the elegant social circles he finds himself in upon his return to Russia. It's interesting how "doing the right thing" can get one into so much trouble -- this novel rings true to life, in my experience. |
| 3. | "The Brothers Karamazov". An intense, lengthy, and brooding work, this novel tells the story of a set of brothers, their murdered father, and a motley set of other characters. As is typical is Dostoyevsky's work, each character has his or her own particular philosophy of living. Much of the novel is focused on these "competing philosophies" and what each permits the character to do. |
| 4. | "The Devils" (also called "The Possessed"). Russia has produced its fair share of revolutionaries through the years. In "The Devils", quiet provincial life is unsettled by the strange behavior of a group of young plotters who are fomenting revolution. As usual, a rich cast of characters keeps things interesting even when the plot is a little difficult to follow. |
| 5. | "Notes from Underground". This short work does an amazing job of expressing the views of a man alienated from society as he attempts to make sense of his own life and life in general. Perhaps an ideal place to start with Dostoyevsky -- it's certainly a lot shorter than the other novels listed here. |
| 6. | "The Adolescent". This is my least favorite of Dostoyevsky's novels that I've read so far. It's not that it is bad, but it's not quite on the level of the other novels listed here, in particular when it comes to the depth of the characters portrayed. Still, it has some worthwhile things to say about growing up. |
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