Genre: Novel, philosophical fiction
Key Stage: KS5 as a challenging read
Rating: ★★★★★
Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1864)
Reviewer: Yusuf, Year 12
Notes from Underground is separated into two parts: Underground, and Apropos of the Wet Snow. The first section covers the ‘notes’ of the underground man (who is never named), and delves into the intricacy of his mind, indulging you in a series of rather confusing, memoirs and confessions of his experience of alienation of society. He introduces many concepts and analogies that he uses to explain his highly controversial opinions, critiquing concepts such as utilitarianism, rational egoism, and many other views of the time.
The second section covers previous events within the man’s life before he chose to retreat into the underground, and gives further insight into what drove him to make such a decision.
The book takes a conversational tone through the form of a diary of sorts, and builds a kind of connection between you and the underground man that feels as if you are truly talking. Although quite confusing at times, the intricacy and details of the analogies that he conceives puts into perspective his dire attempt to rationalise his actions, and is full of snarky remarks and criticisms of other writers of the time. You can then make your own judgements of the opinions of the underground man, though he is quite convincing at times. However, it is evident that he truly is a ‘sick man’, delusional even, but it makes you think about why that truly is.