[

] is perhaps the most compelling and uncomfortable to read of all Dostoevsky’s works, which is saying a great deal. Although a relatively short book, it is structurally rather complex, bearing scant resemblance to the form of a conventional novella. Its subtle and unsparing analysis of the psychology of the modern mind, deracinated and adrift in a world seemingly bereft of the certainties once provided by religion, makes

susceptible to endless interpretation, and largely accounts for the fascination that it continues to exert upon its readers.

Notes from Underground is composed of two parts: the first of these, entitled “The Underground”, takes the form of a curious document – part polemic, part uneasy apologia

2884 words

Citation: Lovatt, Steven. "Zapiski iz podpol'ia". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 August 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13092, accessed 22 November 2024.]

• View recommended reading for this article