The Possessed - Dostoyevsky - 1936 Modern Library edition

A prophetic masterpiece that pierces the heart of revolutionary fervor and human corruption, "The Possessed" is one of Dostoyevsky's most chilling and prescient works. Set in a provincial Russian town consumed by radical politics and moral decay, this explosive novel follows a group of conspirators whose idealistic dreams of liberation spiral into chaos, murder, and psychological destruction. Inspired by actual political events but transcending mere historical chronicle, Dostoyevsky crafts a devastating portrait of how noble intentions can be perverted by extremism and how the rejection of spiritual values leads inevitably to violence and despair. His psychological insights reveal the dangerous seductiveness of radical ideologies and the human capacity for self-destruction in the name of progress. More than a century after its publication, "The Possessed" reads like a terrifying prophecy of the totalitarian movements that would later convulse the world. With its unflinching examination of political fanaticism, moral relativism, and the crisis of faith in modern society, this towering work remains urgently relevant. Essential reading for understanding both the Russian soul and the universal human condition. - The Possessed - Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Translated from the Russian by Constance Garnett. Published 1936, The Modern Library, New York Hardcover. Approx. 5x7in. 738pp. Spine shows wear. Writing on inside of first page, cover page (see photos).