Devils (Oxford World's Classics)

In Devils Dostoevsky mercilessly and adroitly "... depict[s] those diverse and multifarious motives by which even the purest of hearts and the most innocent of people can be drawn in to committing such a monstrous offence." This fierce allegorical tale is prophetic of the present bout of nihilism which also threatens a "... triumph [that] will stand very far from the Kingdom of Heaven".In the words of another writer –A fool's dream oft is a wise man's nightmare,Yet visions render saints and madmen joy;As wak'd all at accord desire the fair,Though some to tender, others to destroy.To reiterate some often trite advice, this book is essential reading for our times.

KUDOS TO OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS FOR BRINGING OUT SCHOLARLY TRANSLATION OF FYODOR'S NOVELS; THE ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF FYODORS'S NOVELS BY OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS ARE REALLY EXCELLENT, THEY BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY COPIOUS EXPLANATORY NOTES AND MASTERLY INTRODUCTIONS BY TALENTED SCHOLARS; NOW COMING TO THE NOVEL I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THE FOLLOWING :THE NOVELIST IS A GENIUS WHO IS CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING EVEN SMALL AND INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS INTO HIGHLY INTERESTING MATTER FOR THE AVERAGE READER; AN EXAMPLE WILL SUFFICE; WHEN THE READER IS EXPECTING EAGERLY THE FATE OF SHATOV, SUDDENLY THERE EMERGES THE FEMALE TRAVELLER ,SHSATOV'S WIFE; THIS PARTICULAR CHAPTER CONSUMES AT LEAST TWENTY PAGES OF NORMAL EVENTS WHICH DO NOT PRODUCE ANY SUSPENSE OR INTEREST IN THE READER; HOWEVER AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER THE UTTERANCE MADE BY SHATVOIA'S WIFE THAT MR.STROVIGN IS A WORST CRIMINAL INDICATES A SUSPENSE WHICH IS REVEALED ONLY IN THE NEXT CHAPTER ; I PARTICULRLY ENJOYED THIS LEVEL OF SUSPENSE STUFFED IN BETWEEN THE TWO CHAPTERS; THE CHAPTER RELATING TO FULL NIGHT'S WORK IS ALSO THRILLING TO READ AND I FOUND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO PUT DOWN THE BOOK TILL I COMPLETED THE CHAPTER; THE BOOK IS WORTH THE MONEY PAID BY MEWITH REGARDSMURALIDHARAN MADRAS

Just finished the book.The introduction, translation, notes, layout is perfect. Oxford did a great job this time.

Attracted to this edition by the ease of the translation, additional notes and character listing.

Book arrive on time.It is a great read, like every book by Dostoevsky. Recommended.

Difficult novel but worth persevering with. The Oxford edition has a good introduction and helpful notes. I read some criticism after I had finished it and this helped to understand the historical and literary background. A demanding novel but a great one!

Overall this one dragged a bit for me.Its not that it lacks any specific quality I just found that the level of concentration required to remain interested in the intrigue of the plot, got lost in the voluminous text, to point that I stopped caring what happened when it did happen.The most memorable point it made to me was that its quite easy to motivate unsociable people to political ends.

I've never really had any problems before but the front cover was bent and some of the inside pages damaged. A shame really and don't have the luxury of sending it back to be replaced as needed it as a gift.

Great story and writing style

It amazes me how directly 19thC Russian and French literature speaks to America, as well as the western world, in 2021. Here are two examples from Dostoevsky’s, “Devils”:From page 524: “I’m not talking about the so-called “progressive” people, always in a rush (that’s their main concern), often with an absurd, but more or less defined aim. No, I’m talking only about the scum. This scum, which exists in every society and rises to the surface during any transitional period, lacking not only a purpose but any sign of rational activity, merely expresses unrest and impatience with all its might. Meanwhile, without even knowing it, this scum almost always falls under the control of a small group of “progressives” acting with definite aims; this group directs the scum wherever it likes, so long as the group isn’t composed of complete idiots, which, however, is sometimes the case.”From page 564: “They should have restrained those scoundrels and sluggards—because that’s what they were, scoundrels and sluggards, nothing more serious. There’s no kind of society anywhere where the police alone can maintain order. Everyone here demands a special policeman assigned to protect him wherever he goes. People don’t understand that society must protect itself. What do our heads of families do in comparable circumstances, our venerable elders, wives, and daughters? They keep silent and sulk. There’s not even enough social initiative to restrain the pranksters.”

Very good novel by one of the greatest novelists

Reading Dostoevsky, you get a sense of what the allure of reality TV might be--he puts characters on display with all their extremity and horror and hypocrisy intact. The events of this novel are filled with the horrors on man--psychological scheming to twist loyalties, love/hate relationships, building up to murder and rape, but at the same time with a level of humor that reality TV sorely misses (the ability to make us laugh WITH of course, not AT), for Dostoevsky makes his characters utterly recognizable rather than unsympathetic freakshow and persists in holding up that mirror as his characters act stupidly, or courageously, or horrifically. The tale begins with the twisted relationship between Varvara Petrovna, a widowed woman of means who has been housing Stepan Trofimovich, an out-of-touch academic. The two hate each other but stand to be apart, and their sons concoct a scheme in the name of revolution that will throw the community into turmoil. As opposed to Brothers K or Crime & Punishment, Devils looks at community as a character, and the stupidity of crowds, and does so in a way that is educational and soulful, showing us what he can't get from reality TV.Also, my strongest recommendation is of this particular translation, the Michael R. Katz. While I have much preferred Pevear and Volokhonsky for most of the other Dostoevsky novels, I found their translations (Demons) a little too think and much less pleasurable to read. And less funny. For as horrific as the events of the novel are, Dostoevsky nicely lampoons his characters, exposing them for all their failings is recognizable ways.

If it were up to me there wouldn't be so many translations and so many publications of the old Russian classics. That's partially why I'm writing this review: to help you decide which version you want to purchase. Really, I think it can be narrowed down to two choices.If you want hardcover I suggest the luxurious  Demons (Everyman's Library, 182) . It's the Pevear/Volokhonsky translation, which has been highly praised by critics. I find that the P/V translations are able to better articulate ideas. In terms of style they be more accurate, but the prose seem awkward and quite ugly. I also think that according to the contemporary American vernacular that Demons is the best possible title for this book.It's the Katz's translation you'll be getting if you purchase  Devils: The Possessed (Oxford World's Classics) . Here is a fine quality paperback. Paper, Ink, Binding are all satisfactory; they seem to last longer than most paperbacks do. Endnotes, Character list, Dostoevsky/Historical timelines are included--all that extra good stuff; perhaps even more of it (certainly no less) than the Hardcover Everyman's edition. Katz, unlike Pevear is a professor; it is for this reason that I attach more value to his introduction than I do that of Pevear. Of course, it's half the price.As a novel, I highly recommend Devils. Set in provincial Russia, the story is eerily prophetic of the Russian revolution that would take place some fifty years later. The story begins with a lengthy biographical sketch of two characters. Then, the focus shifts to those character's sons, who happen to be at the head of a group of pseudo-revolutionaries. Multiple scandals ensue.In Devils, Dostoevsky addresses his own concerns about the existence of god. He questions the merits of wholesale social/political reform and the Revolutionary groups who propose said reform. As always, Dostoevsky impressively displays the realistic psychological nuances of his characters. As an added bonus, there's also a parody of the Russian writer Turgenev.If you haven't read any Dostoevsky before this is a good a place as any to start, though you might try Crime and Punishment first. Demons (Everyman's Library, 182)Devils: The Possessed (Oxford World's Classics)