📖 Fyodor Dostoevsky - Demons
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Today’s book is:
Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Pyotr and Stavrogin are the leaders of a Russian revolutionary cell. Their aim is to overthrow the Tsar, destroy society, and seize power for themselves. Together they train terrorists who are willing to lay down their lives to accomplish their goals. But when the group is threatened with exposure, will their recruits be willing to kill one of their own to cover their tracks?
Savage and powerful yet lively and often comic, Demons was inspired by a real-life political murder and is a scathing and eerily prescient indictment of those who use violence to serve their beliefs.
You can buy the book here (Amazon link).
"But, now that we are all at last preparing to act, a new form of social organisation is essential. In order to avoid further uncertainty, I propose my own system of world-organisation. Here it is."
He tapped the notebook."
I wanted to expound my views to the meeting in the most concise form possible, but I see that I should need to add a great many verbal explanations, and so the whole exposition would occupy at least ten evenings, one for each of my chapters." (There was the sound of laughter.)
"I must add, besides, that my system is not yet complete.
." (Laughter again.) "I am perplexed by my own data and my conclusion is a direct contradiction of the original idea with which I start. Starting from unlimited freedom, I arrive at unlimited despotism. I will add however, that there can be no solution of the social problem but mine.” -- Shigalyov, Demons.
Demons is great, but my fave book by Dostoevsky is Notes from Underground. It’s a very serious exploration of the irrational in human motivation, yet alternately hilarious and agonizingly cringe-inducing. It’s also an object lesson in the sin of pride as a dead end. Absolutely unforgettable.