Fyodor DostoyevskyThe House of the Dead (Penguin Classics) Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Fine

Hi Team,Here is my feedback:Please increase the size of the book (height and width). Then, you can increase the font along with the number of pages. The current size of the book forcefully compresses a huge amount of content in small font, which is hard to read. You can slightly increase the price accordingly.Regards,Veeru

Dostoevsky is the best Russian philosopher

After reading most of Dostoyevsky's works, save for The House of the Dead, I decided to wade into his 'memoir' of prison to explore his experience that no doubt coloured his subsequent writing. I wasn't disappointed. He writes "through" a fictitious character, rather than telling his story in "first person." As I read the fictional character's account of the years spent as a convict, as an 'unfortunate,' I couldn't help but "hear" Dostoyevsky's voice, not the voice of his fictional literary "alter-ego." One moment finds the author a psychologist, the next a sociologist and the next a philosopher. Combine all three disciplines, spice with abundant, incisive self-examination and one has a book that not only entertains but shocks the reader. His attention to detail is a hallmark of the work. One's sensibilities are offended by the atrocious treatment of human beings and by the heinous crimes of some of the convicts. One's emotions are twisted by the unbelievable images created by Dostoyevsky's keen perceptions, both of his fellow "convicts" and of the sadistic so-called "executioners" -- the happy, gleeful, mentally deranged constabulary that seem to only live forthe beatings and floggings of the inmates; these marginal humans revel in administering severe punishments, even unto death. However, there are enough "lighter" moments, even compassionate moments (like the Stage Show and Hospital) sprinkled into the narrative to lift the reader out of rising despair and ease uncommon tension. As well, the author describes some of his fellow prisoners in near comedic terms. Would I recommend this work to readers? Absolutely, but be prepared for a dose of reality that often exists without non-fictional illumination--the kind that may sharpen one's sanguine view of humanity. Like most Russian literature, compelling images, cogent thoughts and feelings will tend to remain with the reader for some time.Ard CaldwellKelowna

Life in a Siberian prison isn't as inhuman or as dead for Dostoyevsky as I had expected. Living in cramped quarters without proper plumbing and freedom restricted reminded me of my 2.5 years of full time conscription in the army. There was nothing like the dehumanizing solitary confinement of Edmond Dante in Count of Monte Cristo. Instead, 2 hundred prisoners were cramped into one building. Sure the night pail or waste tub sounded absolutely unbearable, but the opportunity to drink vodka, have a personal samovar to drink tea, gamble, play with dogs, have christmas parties, and working outdoors made the experience sounded more like a summer camp or kibbutz living. The author's frequent admiration of handsome looking young men suggested perhaps the author could be attracted to his companions in more than a platonic fashion. The silver lining to the incarceration was the rejuvenation of Dostoyevsky soul into a man of humility and anpathy after five years of introspection, refinement and coexistence with people from all walks of life.

Enjoyed (probably the wrong word given the subject) this rambling narrative, with paragraphs that go on for pages, and the notes about D's life relating to it.

The book is good and so is the translation. However I must subtract one start due to, in my opinion, a high amount of grammatical errors.I do reccomend this book nonetheless.Jan