idiot Penguin Classics

Author: Dostoevsky
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: This book is one of the important works of the great 19th-century Russian writer Dostoevsky. The novel depicts the beautiful noblewoman Natasha, born into a noble family, who suffers abuse from the landowner Totsky for many years. Later, Totsky offers a large sum of money to marry her to the shameless Ganja. At the birthday ball of the female protagonist, the young Duke Mishkin, considered a fool by people, suddenly appears and offers to marry Natasha unconditionally, deeply moving her. On the day of the wedding with the Duke, although she deeply loved him, she still ran off with the playboy Rogojin. Later, she was murdered by Rogojin. The novel provides a broad portrayal of Russian upper society after the abolition of serfdom and touches on complex psychological and moral issues. The kind and tolerant Duke Mishkin is unable to influence those around him or bring them prosperity, and the efforts of this Don Quixote-like character are futile, indicating the author's disillusionment with the fantasy of saving the world through faith and love.