The Double

By: Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

First published in 1846, Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novella The Double is a classic doppelganger story and the second major work published by the author. It is the story of Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, a government clerk who believes that a fellow clerk has taken over his identity and is determined to bring about his ruin. Considered the most Gogolesque of Dostoyevsky's works, the novella brilliantly depicts Golyadkin's descent into madness in a way that is hauntingly poetic. The Double illustrates Dostoyevsky's uncanny ability at capturing the complexity of human emotion, especially the darker side of the human psyche.

Public Domain (P)2012 AudioGO

Is it better than the movie?

Honestly I'd say no, but it's certainly worth the listen. Even if only because you know Dostoyevsky is a great writer.

Great writing but a painful cringy story

Mr golayadkin is a turd and had no gonads, hard to imagine a person like that.

The hero.

Downtrodden Hero! He’s not capable of getting ahead of most disgruntled
Days. Sorrowful , but funny story by F. D.

very Kafka inspired

My impression of this darkly comedic, absurdist, existential piece of madness is how similar to Kafka it is. I do wonder how intentional that is.

Otherwise, this is an excellent story from a masterclass of Russian lit

Complex and Surreal

As with most of Dostoyevsky there are many characters and many difficult names. Some characters have two names. A good mystery that will remain a mystery until I find some notes online