![DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Zapiski iz podpol'ia. Povest. [Notes from the Underground. A Tale.] St Petersburg: F. Stellovskii, 1866.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_17162_0061_001(dostoevsky_fyodor_zapiski_iz_podpolia_povest_notes_from_the_undergroun104718).jpg?w=1)
![DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Zapiski iz podpol'ia. Povest. [Notes from the Underground. A Tale.] St Petersburg: F. Stellovskii, 1866.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_17162_0061_002(dostoevsky_fyodor_zapiski_iz_podpolia_povest_notes_from_the_undergroun091112).jpg?w=1)
![DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Zapiski iz podpol'ia. Povest. [Notes from the Underground. A Tale.] St Petersburg: F. Stellovskii, 1866.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2018/CKS/2018_CKS_17162_0061_000(dostoevsky_fyodor_zapiski_iz_podpolia_povest_notes_from_the_undergroun104710).jpg?w=1)
Details
DOSTOEVSKY, Fyodor (1821-1881). Zapiski iz podpol'ia. Povest. [Notes from the Underground. A Tale.] St Petersburg: F. Stellovskii, 1866.
The rare first separate edition of Dostoevsky's most philosophical work and 'probably the most important source of the modern dystopia' (Morson). RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction; WorldCat locates just one copy outside of Russia, in the British Library. Notes from the Underground is Dostoevsky's critique of Utopianism and his answer to those who believe that every human action is pre-determined, the complex consequence of prior causation. The underground man’s refusal to accept such 'despotism', even his irrational protest, is his way of asserting his freedom – without which no true religion is possible (Frank). The text first appeared in book-form the previous year in volume 2 of the Complete Collected Works. Frank, Dostoevsky. The Miraculous Years. 1865-1871, pp. 312, 320; Morson, The Boundaries of Genre: Dostoevsky's Diary of a Writer and the Traditions of Literary Utopia, p.130.
16mo (167 x 115mm). With the adverts (first and last few leaves repaired in the inside margin; leaf 4.11 with marginal loss affecting some words; occasional light soiling and light spotting). Contemporary Russian maroon half morocco (neatly rebacked with some of the original spine). Provenance: partly legible inscription in purple ink on the verso).
The rare first separate edition of Dostoevsky's most philosophical work and 'probably the most important source of the modern dystopia' (Morson). RBH and ABPC record no copy having been offered at auction; WorldCat locates just one copy outside of Russia, in the British Library. Notes from the Underground is Dostoevsky's critique of Utopianism and his answer to those who believe that every human action is pre-determined, the complex consequence of prior causation. The underground man’s refusal to accept such 'despotism', even his irrational protest, is his way of asserting his freedom – without which no true religion is possible (Frank). The text first appeared in book-form the previous year in volume 2 of the Complete Collected Works. Frank, Dostoevsky. The Miraculous Years. 1865-1871, pp. 312, 320; Morson, The Boundaries of Genre: Dostoevsky's Diary of a Writer and the Traditions of Literary Utopia, p.130.
16mo (167 x 115mm). With the adverts (first and last few leaves repaired in the inside margin; leaf 4.11 with marginal loss affecting some words; occasional light soiling and light spotting). Contemporary Russian maroon half morocco (neatly rebacked with some of the original spine). Provenance: partly legible inscription in purple ink on the verso).
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