The Grand Inquisitor: with related chapters from The Brothers Karamazov

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

This new edition presents The Grand Inquisitor together with the preceding chapter, Rebellion, and the extended reply offered by Dostoevsky in the following sections, entitled The Russian Monk. By showing how Dostoevsky frames the Grand Inquisitor story in the wider context of the novel, this edition captures the subtlety and power of Dostoevsky's critique of modernity as well as his alternative vision of human fulfillment.

Genres: Read For School, School

160 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 1993

About the author

Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский (Russian)

Works, such as the novels Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1869), and The Brothers Karamazov (1880), of Russian writer Feodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky or Dostoevski combine religious mysticism with profound psychological insight.

Very influential writings of Mikhail Mikhailovich Bakhtin included Problems of Dostoyevsky's Works (1929),

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky composed short stories, essays, and journals. His literature explores humans in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century and engages with a variety of philosophies and themes. People most acclaimed his Demons(1872) .

Many literary critics rate him among the greatest authors of world literature and consider multiple books written by him to be highly influential masterpieces. They consider his Notes from Underground of the first existentialist literature. He is also well regarded as a philosopher and theologian.

(Russian: Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский) (see also Fiodor Dostoïevski)

Reviews

[Shelby]

Reading for School :(

[Karla Correa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this from the free library near my apartment not knowing anything about Dostoevsky but I enjoyed this and now plan to read The Brothers Karamazov. The chapter entitled “Rebellion” is graphic and disturbing but overall really interesting themes throughout these few chapters. The intro was helpful minus the few short statements about the USSR

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essay included with this excerpt is brilliant.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

while the west busies itself with the sun setting and the advent of darkness, in the east there is light

ivan’s creed (“rebellion”) is one of the most desperate, poignant, irrefutable articulations of all that pains me
—unnecessary suffering, excessive suffering, innocent suffering

the answer, community, interconnectedness (the dao, perhaps?) is a practical, viable answer

but my ego is too big for me to shake off ivan’s words, and sometimes i don’t think i can love my neighbor either…

but community does not mean complicit, and suffering does not mean to suffer, and clean hands are useless to everyone— i am part of this cycle of suffering, and i’ll be damned if i don’t at least try to stop it

turning 31 will be monumental for me.

[Nicole Houck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dostoevsky is a genius in both word choice and story telling. The simple yet interesting lives of these characters is seemingly plotless, yet still an addictive read. The story of The Grand Inquisitor was beautifully written and tragic, and the character that wrote the poem, and who he was telling it to, makes it all that much more impactful. I need to read more Dostoevsky asap!

[Delphine Armand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing-- Guignon's paired introduction/essay is incredible and the perfect set up to better understand these chapters by Dostoevsky. Certainly made Brothers Karamazov next on my list with a heartbreaking and engaging commentary on suffering and materialism.

[Robert Hearnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the full novel last year, but this had a very good introduction to set up certain themes of the novel in opposition with enlightenment ideals and contemporary philosophy.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential excerpts from Brothers Karamazov and the wondrous 30 page introduction by Charles Guignon is worth the price of the book.

[Abdul Monum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterpiece within a masterpiece

[rowan]

nothing like some dostoevsky to cure a hangover

[Sydney Forrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sad but very good