Notes from Underground

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a profound exploration of the human psyche, set in the mid-19th century. The novel is a first-person narrative by an unnamed narrator, often referred to as the Underground Man. He is a retired civil servant living in St. Petersburg, who is consumed by intense introspection and psychological struggle. The narrative is split into two parts: 'Underground,' in which he provides a bitter monologue criticising society and himself, and 'Apropos of the Wet Snow,' that presents episodes from his life which showcase his self-destructive tendencies and alienation from society. This deeply philosophical work examines themes of existentialism, free will, and the quest for identity.

Dostoevsky’s writing is complemented by the "Backgrounds and Sources" section that includes relevant writings by the author, such as "Winter Notes on Summer Impressions," capturing his formative journey to the West. This second edition also introduces excerpts from V. F. Odoevsky's "Russian Nights" and I. S. Turgenev's "Hamlet of Shchigrovsk District," offering rich historical and cultural context.

In the "Responses" section, editor Michael Katz ties the novel’s theme of the underground man to six impactful works, including two new additions for this edition: an excerpt from M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin's The Swallows and Woody Allen's Notes from the Overfed. Other excerpts include Robert Walser's The Child, Ralph Ellison's The Invisible Man, Yevgeny Zamyatin's We, and Jean-Paul Sartre's Erostratus. These selections provide a multifaceted view of the influence and legacy of Dostoevsky’s themes.

The "Criticism" section offers eleven insightful essays from both Russian and Western critics spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with the second edition featuring two new entries. Esteemed scholars such as Nikolai K. Mikhailovsky, Vasily Rozanov, Lev Shestov, M. M. Bakhtin, Ralph E. Matlaw, Victor Erlich, Robert Louis Jackson, Gary Saul Morson, Richard H. Weisberg, Joseph Frank, and Tzvetan Todorov provide varied interpretative angles on Dostoevsky's work, making this a comprehensive critical anthology.

A detailed Chronology offers a timeline of Dostoevsky's life and works, giving readers insight into the author's personal and professional milestones. A Selected Bibliography is also included, guiding further exploration and study of Dostoevsky’s oeuvre and its vast critical reception.