Notes from the Underground
Notes from the Underground, published in 1864, is the confession of a retired civil servant living in a corner of St. Petersburg who despises the world and himself in roughly equal measure. The first part is an argument: against reason, against utopias, against the idea that people will do what is good for them if only they know what it is. The second part is a story from his youth, a dinner with former schoolmates and a night with a prostitute named Liza, in which he humiliates everyone including himself. Dostoyevsky's underground man is the first of his great talkers, and the book opens the road to Crime and Punishment. This edition presents the text in Constance Garnett's translation. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Notes from the Underground
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Notes from the Underground online?
Yes. Notes from the Underground opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Notes from the Underground free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Notes from the Underground is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Notes from the Underground in the public domain?
Yes. Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Constance Garnett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Notes from the Underground?
About 2 h 56 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Notes from the Underground?
Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
