Publisher's Synopsis
Fyodor Dostoevsky is often remembered for his profound and psychologically complex novels, but his shorter works showcase the same brilliance in more concentrated form. The Dostoevsky Collection - Part 3 brings together a compelling selection of stories that reveal his range as a writer-from satirical absurdity to melancholic romance, from social critique to intimate personal reflections. This volume offers a unique perspective on Dostoevsky's evolving literary style and his deep understanding of the human soul.
The collection begins with The Crocodile, one of Dostoevsky's most unusual and darkly comic tales. When a man is swallowed whole by a crocodile in a Petersburg arcade, he remains alive inside the creature and insists on continuing his work. A sharp satire of capitalism, bureaucracy, and intellectual arrogance, the story blends surrealism with biting social commentary. Mr. Polzounkov is a more intimate tragedy, depicting a man whose moment of weakness sets him on an irreversible path of self-destruction-a reflection on fate, morality, and lost potential.
White Nights, one of Dostoevsky's most lyrical and emotionally resonant stories, follows a lonely dreamer who experiences a fleeting but life-changing romance. It is a meditation on love, longing, and the passage of time, capturing the beauty and pain of unfulfilled dreams. An Unfortunate Story provides a satirical counterpoint, following a well-intentioned but socially awkward government official whose blunders reveal the absurdities of class and status in 19th-century Russia.
A Spring in Petersburg captures the atmosphere of the city that shaped Dostoevsky's life and work, offering a vivid portrait of its struggles and contradictions. The collection concludes with Memories of Madame A. G. Dostoievski, a rare personal account by his wife, Anna Grigoryevna Dostoevskaya. Her memoirs provide invaluable insight into the daily life, creative struggles, and personal relationships of the great writer, offering a deeply humanizing perspective on a literary giant.
This volume presents Dostoevsky's work in fresh translations that preserve the richness and intensity of his prose, ensuring that modern readers can fully experience the depth of his storytelling. The Dostoevsky Collection - Part 3 is an essential addition for admirers of classic literature, offering a journey through the mind of one of the most insightful and profound writers in history.
