First published 1869
Prince Myshkin steps off the train in St Petersburg after years recovering in a Swiss sanatorium. The gentle, epileptic prince visits his distant relative General Yepanchin, where his innocent nature wins over the family. Then Myshkin sees a photograph of Nastasya Filippovna. Her beauty captivates him completely. He pursues her, but discovers he must compete for her affections. The prince finds himself trapped between two women who represent opposite worlds. Nastasya carries the weight of past trauma and manipulation by powerful men. The other woman offers respectability and social acceptance. As Myshkin navigates St Petersburg's corrupt society, his pure intentions collide with human greed and deception. Blackmail schemes unfold around him. Betrayals multiply. The prince's goodness cannot protect him from the violence that his presence seems to unleash. His love becomes the catalyst for tragedy.
Genres: fiction, classic-literature, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water, tragic-hero
Setting: Russia, St. Petersburg, Switzerland
Period: 19th Century
732 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics
Content warnings: mental-illness, violence