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Title: The House of the Dead (Penguin Classics) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, David McDuff ISBN: 0-14-044456-4 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: January, 1986 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.08 (12 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: 3 and 1/2 Stars -- Different For Dostoyevsky
Comment: Fyodor Dostoyevsky is well-known for his novels and novellas, of which some of the best ever written flowed from his pen. This book, however, is an entirely different animal. Though ostensibly a work of fiction, The House of the Dead is actually a thinly-veiled autobiographical narrative. Dostoyevsky, who endured four years of hard labor in a Siberian prison -- after getting the "silent treatment" is isolation for eight months and facing a firing squad, in a death shroud, only to have his sentence commuted to the aforementioned punishment at the last minute -- created this book as a sort of memoir of his experiences. The book's Introduction sets up a fictional character to tell the story -- it was Dostoyevsky's intent to have the notes "written by a stranger" and to have his personality completely eliminated (one suspects for reasons not entirely related to literary conduciveness) -- but we see the emperor through his clothes. Since this is not really a work of fiction, then, it is not surprising that there is absolutely no plot to speak of, no linear development, no climax, and no resolution. It is, basically, a series of anecdotes -- the more interesting things that Dostoyevsky saw while in prison. Indeed, an alternate title that I have seen for the book is much more fitting (and revealing): Notes From a Dead House.
This book certainly does not rank in the upper tier of Dostoyevsky's work: all of his long novels are acknowledged masterpieces. With that said, it should also be noted that this book is also an acknowledged classic. As a book relating the prison experience to the masses (of which there are many), it is rather fine. The book reads much like a documentary -- which, of course, is what it basically is. Unlike many other prison books, we don't see such exciting elements as dashing escapes and noble, heroic prisoners. This is the real thing. It is also remarkable how infrequently Dostoyevsky gets on his soapbox: this is not a polemic against prisons, a tome about being a "victim of society", or a tract for prison reform -- it is not even an admirable psychological portrait of an enthralled criminal. Indeed, the book, as it goes, is quite remarkable for its uniqueness. Those who like to read books of this kind -- criminologists, say -- will find much to like here and will also probably find it to be quite unique. It is also a treasure for Dostoyevsky readers, who will find much material that enlivens the author himself. Readers new to the author, however, should start with one of his great novels.
Rating: 3
Summary: Not His Finest, But Still A Good Read
Comment: This book is very Dostoyevsky in some ways, yet is still a departure from his usual fare. It is properly dark and depressing in keeping with his usual style. It is a personel account of his time in a horrific Russian prison. He builds his characters well and evokes feelings in the reader, but this book will never stand up to his immortal Crime and Punishment.
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent
Comment: I love this book. I'm so sad that I will never be able to read this book for the first time again! I would say that there are a few technical errors in this book, but it's beauty and originality far over shadow any of that. If you are thinking of reading this, please do!
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Title: Poor Folk and Other Stories (Penguin Classics) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, David McDuff, Fyodor M. Dostoevsky ISBN: 0140445056 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: April, 1989 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: The Idiot (Oxford World's Classics) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Alan Myers, Fyodor M. Dostoevsky ISBN: 0192834118 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: July, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: The Devils : The Possessed by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, David Magarshack, Fyodor M. Dostoevsky ISBN: 0140440356 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: February, 1954 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: The Gambler by Fyodor Dostoyevsky ISBN: 0486290816 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 20 May, 1996 List Price(USD): $2.00 |
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Title: The Double by Fyodor Dostoyevsky ISBN: 0486295729 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 12 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $2.00 |
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