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80th out of 141 books
—
249 voters
The Petty Demon
The Petty Demon is one of the funniest Russian novels ever written. It is also the most decadent of the great Russian classics, replete with naked boys, sinuous girls, and a strange mixture of beauty and perversity. The main character, Peredonov, is as comical as he is disgustingat once a victim, a monster, a silly hypocrite, and a sadistic dullard.
The plot moves from Pe
...morePaperback, 352 pages
Published
January 16th 2009
by Overlook TP
(first published 1905)
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Maledetti bastardi perversi crudeli sudici paranoici dementi alcolizzati schizofrenici. Malefico. Avrei voluto che non finisse mai. Ma dall'ottocento e rotti al novecento e rotti che gli davano da mangiare a 'sti scrittori russi?
Symbolism is a word that is so variably applied that its almost become worthless. There's the academic and IMO masturbatory symbolism of Jarry, the complex trascendent system of metaphysical signification that is present in Scriabin and Bely, the hazy expansive undefined-ness of Maeterlink and so on but Sologub, in this work is none of these. His symbolism instead is something of an aloof determinant that has no saving grace or final answer but it does promote a deep understanding of the terms a...more
This is the second Eastern European novel about a pathetic school teacher I've read this year, and it is great.
Peredonovism is very identifiable. Sologub does a great job painting the portrait of petty people. It's an artsy-fartsy read, as in you shouldn't be looking for the things you normally look for in a good book. Yet, it still holds strong throughout with relatable characters and a pretty gripping plot (to be perfectly honest). It's really the characters that make the plot so gripping thou...more
Peredonovism is very identifiable. Sologub does a great job painting the portrait of petty people. It's an artsy-fartsy read, as in you shouldn't be looking for the things you normally look for in a good book. Yet, it still holds strong throughout with relatable characters and a pretty gripping plot (to be perfectly honest). It's really the characters that make the plot so gripping thou...more
It is hard for my to decided whether this book is a comedy or a tragedy. Often times I found myself laughing, but the author was also expressing that he had zero hope for humanity in his characterizations of men, women and children. The main character is a man who possesses not a single redeeming human trait. He is paranoid, cruel, selfish, shallow and materialistic. He has no compassion or sympathy and drives himself crazy because he doesn't have a trusting bone in his entire body. All of the w...more
I really enjoyed this Russian satire. Peredonov, the anti-hero of the story has all of the qualities of wonderful Quixotic heroes (see, e.g., Ignatius Reilly from A Confederacy of Dunces) -- he's lazy and crazy and paranoid but oh so fun to read. This is the type of book that I wish I were reading with a class because there's lots of symbolism and references to other Russian literature and thinkers that were beyond my ability to keep up with. But even at a superficial reading level, the book is...more
More of my not-so-sectret love affair with Russian lit. One of several gems I'd never have known about was it not for 'Russian Literature in English 142' in my freshman year of college, taught by Timothy Westphalen. Jolly good show, Tim.
I was unsure what to think of this going in. However, I can honestly say this is probably one of the most interesting novels I've ever read. It has a lot of intertextual depth to it, so the better-read you are, the more you can get out of it! I am rather middling in that regard, so I am sure I missed out on a lot of the depth to be offered. However, even the surface tale is pretty funny. Peredonov is one of the most hilarious anti-heroes I have ever come across. I definitely found myself laughin...more
"Peredonov glared angrily at the salt"
If you can get your hands on this one, read it! One of the funniest novels ever written.
If you can get your hands on this one, read it! One of the funniest novels ever written.
being introduced to this story of paranoia is one of the main reasons im thankful for college
Very funny and scintillating. . .
Reading this is kind of like watching a train wreck. It's hard to put it down, but you feel a little bit sick at seeing so much nastiness. Peredonov is like a Russian version of Babbitt, except more violent, less sane, and for some reason the town's most eligible bachelor. You'd feel bad for everyone he abuses, except that the rest of the town is only slightly less vile. The author fortunately goes far enough that the characters aren't really human; if he hadn't gone so far, I don't think I coul...more
really I wanted to get hold of 'Kiss of the Unborn' as recommended by Karen, but the library didn't have it and amazon market place were charging 58 quid for a second hand copy. But this novel which sounds pretty good is available via the library so I'll reserve it instead.
1 like · like · see review
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Petty Demon is comparable to Crime and Punishment, though not written as well and in a later time period. But the dynamics and depth of character psyche is marvelous. Russian society in this book is portrayed in a fascinating and interesting way very foreign to my own, but much of the attitudes and behaviors can be applied to people today.
3,5
Lettura piacevole, scorrevole, a tratti interessante e apprezzabile.
L'unica cosa che mi è piaciuta poco e non mi ha entusiasmato è che le paranoie del protagonista non vengono analizzate dettagliatamente ma vengono affrontate dallo scrittore con troppa frettolosità. Le paranoie non vengono seguite dall'inizio alla fine seguendone l'evoluzione ingarbugliata ma ci vengono presentate come già esistenti e non c'è profondità di analisi. La tematica principale del libro non è, secondo me, il distur...more
Lettura piacevole, scorrevole, a tratti interessante e apprezzabile.
L'unica cosa che mi è piaciuta poco e non mi ha entusiasmato è che le paranoie del protagonista non vengono analizzate dettagliatamente ma vengono affrontate dallo scrittore con troppa frettolosità. Le paranoie non vengono seguite dall'inizio alla fine seguendone l'evoluzione ingarbugliata ma ci vengono presentate come già esistenti e non c'è profondità di analisi. La tematica principale del libro non è, secondo me, il distur...more
Jan 26, 2010
Jamie B.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jamie by:
languagehat.com
I first heard about Sologub's The Petty Demon from a blogger and couldn't wait to read it. Turn-of-the-century Russian decadence by an under-appreciated Russian master? Sign me up! Seediness, grittiness, well-developed characters whose all-too-fabulous monomaniacal quests eventually fuel their own demises? Hell yes! Because I was so excited to read it, I was really disappointed that the book is pretty thin on plot and tends to drag. Still, it's worth a read because it's dark and awesome and raun...more
This book deserves more attention by the avid anglophone readers of Russian literature--it stands up much better in post-modernity than Dostoyevsky and immeasurably better than Tolstoi.
1 like · like · see review
Although quite funny at times, this author appears to be the "shock-jock" in Russia during the early 20th century.
Quite a good portrait of a man going mad. A few too many of those typical Russian scenes where people sit around for pages talking nonsense, getting into moods and suddenly leaping up to dance for no reason (except the vodka) though.
One of the best books I've ever read. Too good to explain - just read it!
The book written by a real master. 'twas a great pleasure to read it.
Another amazing Russian novel. This time the main character of the story is a paranoide school teacher who enjoys himself torturing his environment, literally a few students. Sologub makes the evil and madness shake hands in "The Petty Demon".
[In Italian translation.:]
This is a great romp into the darkness of man, the petty demon inside all of us. Because the title does not refer only to Peredònov as one might initially think, but to the stupid egoisms and fears that make us all petty paranoiacs.
The book is hilarious with some great visual humor which I think someone should capture in theatre. Maybe take a chapter or two or something, and make a little 3-act play.
It gets more surreal as you turn the pages until that final shock which...more
This is a great romp into the darkness of man, the petty demon inside all of us. Because the title does not refer only to Peredònov as one might initially think, but to the stupid egoisms and fears that make us all petty paranoiacs.
The book is hilarious with some great visual humor which I think someone should capture in theatre. Maybe take a chapter or two or something, and make a little 3-act play.
It gets more surreal as you turn the pages until that final shock which...more
Russian literature at its best
it was alright reading but there was nothing really compelling about this book.
Those crazy Russians. A novel of one particularly horrible school teacher, and all the horrible people in his town. Funny and depressing at the same time, so, yeah, Russian.
Jan 30, 2008
Jennifer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
the depressed and angry
Recommended to Jennifer by:
a former roommate, when I told her I was in need of "dark things
This book will convince every idealist that the glass is not only half empty, but that you have to share it with people you don't like. Ten of them. The worst of human nature.
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Fyodor Sologub (Russian: Фёдор Сологуб, born Fyodor Kuzmich Teternikov, Russian: Фёдор Кузьмич Тетерников; 1 March 1863 – 5 December 1927) was a Russian Symbolist poet, novelist, playwright and essayist. He was the first writer to introduce the morbid, pessimistic elements characteristic of European fin de siècle literature and philosophy into Russian prose.
More about Fyodor Sologub...
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“Indeed a lie is often more plausible than the truth. "Almost" always. The truth, of course, is never very plausible.”
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4 people liked it
“И на этот раз Передонов, не долго думая, сочинил письмо к княгине. Он писал:
"Я люблю вас, потому что вы — холодная и далекая. Варвара потеет, с нею жарко спать, несет, как из печки. Я хочу иметь любовницу холодную и далекую. Приезжайте и соответствуйте".”
—
3 people liked it
More quotes…
"Я люблю вас, потому что вы — холодная и далекая. Варвара потеет, с нею жарко спать, несет, как из печки. Я хочу иметь любовницу холодную и далекую. Приезжайте и соответствуйте".”
