The Possessed or Demons—it is known by both names—is probably the most enigmatic of Dostoyevsky’s novels. The first ½ consists of a long, meandering monologue about an deluded elderly man, Stepan Verkhovensky, twice a widower and his wealthy patroness, Varvara Petrovna Stavrogina, and their twenty-year relationship of pettiness, alternately humorous and curious. The nameless narrator tells the reader this is leading up to something, which considering the length is a good thing, but it still seemed the long way around.

The Possessed is also a comedic-tragedy or a tragedy with many funny parts. I am not inclined to agree with those who call it a comedy, but I did find myself laughing in the middle of some of the most serious scenes. As this happened more often than with Shakespearean episodes of comic relief, it is another thing which I believe sets this novel apart from many others; not quite one, yet not quite another.

The second half of the novel couldn’t be more different than the first and it is the reason to persist through the opening. Two almost polar opposite generations are presented. That of Stepan and Varvara and that of their children, Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, son to Stephan and Nikolai Vsevolodovich Stavrogin son to Varvara. Here the plot turns from narration to action. There is violence and much blood shed. We also learn the reason for the title. As with much from Dostoyevsky, it comes from Scripture. In this case, from the story of Jesus curing the man possessed by many demons. Mark 5:1–5:13

This is another of those books which I think bears multiple readings for full appreciation, or anyway, it did for this reader. Two reviews which I found especially good were here and here. They both contain spoilers so be forewarned, but if you have already struggled through on your own without much understanding, perspective matters more than anything.

It is too bad this novel is not better known. 4.5 stars

بالاخره تمام شد!
اصلا باورم نمیشه تونستم تمومش کنم و وسط کار رهاش نکردم ولی خیلی خوشحالم از این موفقیت! خدا رو شکرش! اگه نیمه رهاش میکردم تا ابدیت احساس گناهش با من بود!

باید بگم کتابی هست که دو سوم اولش به شدت کسالت بار براتون می‌گذرد با اینکه جای جای داستان دارای نکات اجتماعی، روانشناسی و سیاسی است اما متاسفانه جذابیت لازم قلم داستانی را ندارد اما یک سوم آخر کتاب خیلی جذابتر از بقیه و نتیجه گیری ای از کل است که به کل کتاب جذابیت می بخشد.

کتاب اثر سیاسی تری از بقیه آثار دیگه نویسنده می باشد که تا الان خواندم درباره ملتی که موازین اجتماعی خود را از دست داده و به همین علت به جای نجات، خود را نابود می کند. رمان محصول وضع آن زمان روسیه و تجربه های شخصی نویسنده می باشد؛ کتاب شناخت زیادی از انقلابیون و سایر ارگان های سیاسی به ما می‌دهد. درباره دسته ای از انقلابیون است که از هیچ عملی برای رسیدن به آرمان‌های خود رویگردان نیستند. مثل سایر آثار داستایوفسکی رمان گفتگو محور و حول تعاملات کاراکتر ها می‌گذرد.