Notes from the Underground

Notes from the Underground is Dostoevsky’s early masterpiece and is one of the first examples of existentialist literature. Dostoevsky’s narrator is the anonymous voice of the masterful novella. Retired and isolated from society, he is bitter, contemptuous, and contemplative as he presents his anecdotes and philosophical outlooks. Presented as an extract from the narrator’s memoirs, Notes from the Underground is divided into two parts. Opening with a monologue attacking Western philosophy, Dostoevsky follows this theoretical exploration with the anti-hero’s accounts of various destructive and restorative life experiences. First published in 1864, Notes from the Underground is an analysis of human psychology and demonstrates Dostoevsky’s sharp wit and keen understanding of the psyche.