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Devils is the funniest of his books (which, after Crime and Punishment, is probably very welcome), even though it is still technically a tragedy.
It is loosely based on a political murder that occurred at the time Dostoevsky was writing.
It combines a variety of characters' stories ... Read review
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Advantages: Dostoevsky's best - cleverly political, achingly tense Disadvantages: If you don't like Dostoevsky you won't like this.
...and unusually cutting humour.
Devils is the funniest of his books (which, after Crime and Punishment, is probably very welcome), even though it is still technically a tragedy.
It is loosely based on a political murder that occurred at the time Dostoevsky was writing. It combines a variety of characters' stories in a small Russian village - beginning with Varvara - the village's matriarch and her foolish, good natured political writer friend Stephan ... ...on her.
Both represent the shaky foundations of the village's/country's establishment.
Their respective sons, Nikolai Stavrogin, and Peter Stepanovich, return from separate educations abroad. Peter is intent on revolution. Nikolai is a confused, indifferent figure who is hounded relentlessly by Peter who seems him as a charismatic, messianic figure upon which he wishes to hang his revolutionary organisation.
The group, led by Peter, is a ragbag ...
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