Books Notes from Underground (Vintage Classics)  by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Author)

"Notes from Underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a seminal work of existential literature that presents the confessions and worldview of an unnamed narrator known as the Underground Man. Living in isolation in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the 1860s, the narrator is a bitter, spiteful individual who is deeply alienated from society.

The novella is divided into two parts: the first is a philosophical monologue where the narrator critiques rationalism, utopianism, and the idea of human progress, emphasizing the complexity and irrationality of human nature. He claims that humans often act against their own best interests simply to assert free will.

The second part recounts personal episodes from the narrator’s life, including a humiliating encounter with former schoolmates and a failed, emotionally charged attempt to connect with a young prostitute named Liza. These anecdotes illustrate his self-destructive tendencies, social alienation, and emotional turmoil.