The Possessed, or The Devils

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Genres: Classics; Historical Fiction

Synopsis

Originally published in 1872, "The Possessed" (also known as "The Devils" or "Demons") is a political novel by the renowned Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The story focuses on a group of revolutionaries plotting an uprising in a provincial Russian town, exploring their motives, philosophies, and interpersonal dynamics. It delves deep into the psychology of its characters, offering a scathing critique of radical ideologies and the intellectuals who espoused them during Dostoyevsky's time. As with much of his work, the narrative is a profound exploration of good and evil, freedom and enslavement, and the nature of power.