Stories

This collection of Dostoevsky stories contains three tales from before his arrest and three written after his return from Siberia. I've had this book since the 80s when I studied in Russia, and although I've read all the stories before, the better known ones in Russian, the rest in English, I'd forgotten how strange and mesmerizing his short stories are. There is something claustrophobic about these tales, as if you are locked in a small cell at night with only a candle and a person who may or may not be completely mad, telling you an episode from his life that may or may not be true.
Contents: Poor Folk, White Nights, A Faint Heart, A Most Unfortunate Incident, A Meek One, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Faint Heart is the story I'd recommend. It's very much like a nightmare. Main character has happiness awaiting him--marriage to the woman he loves and a friendship with a kindred spirit. All he has to do is to continue what he's done so far: work as a scribe for a wealthy man who likes him. But, in his happiness over his upcoming marriage, he finds himself unable to work, i.e., unable to be happy. So, he destroys everything not by acting, but by inactivity. Marvelous story, painful to read.

Poor Folk - Perhaps a good read for these economic climes. The protagonist lives in a partitioned area off a communal kitchen in what we imagine to be a boarding house. He has a rather complicated relationship with a young woman across the way, whose window he can see from his window. The book is a series of letters between the two. His first letter, to my eyes, was like a declaration of love. But then in following letters he protests that he has only a fatherly interest in her welfare. He buys her sweets, chemises, geraniums etc whilst describing his impoverished life where he can barely afford tea and sugar and his own clothes are falling to pieces. Literature and its role is discussed as the two read and alternately practise writing show more to each other about their past and daily life. I won't describe much more as it defeats the purpose of reading it but I welcome a discussion with others about the little book and its observations on society in Russia at the time. show less

Fine Condition. It apparently was never opened until we did so, very carefully, to catalog it. A beautiful leather book in the Franklin Library tradition that will enhance any book shelf or library. Frontis. black-and-white, sketched portrait of Dostoevsky. Translated by Constance Garnett. 476 pages, Bound in full burgundy leather with elaborate gilt-tooled decorations. Three raised bands on spine with gilt title and decorations in the compartments. All edges gilt. Pale gold silk moire end papers. Attached silk ribbon page marker. A limited edition published for the subscribers to The Collected Stories of The World's Greatest Writers.