A Nasty Story

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

'A Nasty Story' is a hilarious look into the world of humanitarian high society by Dostoevsky. This farcical story revolves around Pralinski, a kind-hearted aristocrat, who decides to attend the wedding of one of his subordinates while in a drunken stupor. What ensues is a comedy of errors as Pralinski wanders through the wedding in a dream-like state. As the situations he finds himself in becomes more absurd, it eventually reaches a calamitous and hilarious climax. 'A Nasty Story' illustrates Dostoevsky's celebrated satire as by attempting to be a moralistic man, Pralinski consistently acts in comically shameful ways. The story's social commentary is as relevant today as when it was written with the buffoonish behaviour of the upper class being sharply contrasted with the respectful working-class wedding guests. 'A Nasty Story' is as sorrowful as it is comical and is perfect for fans of Monty Python.-

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories, Russian Literature, Literature

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2021

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

[Trisha Mukartihal · Rating 3 out of 5]

in my penguin classics version it combines this story with The Meek One & White Nights but I can’t find them as a combo on Goodreads so I’m rating this one-off. It’s got humour and relevant criticism but feels rather stretched out and isn’t memorable. Yet, I don’t entirely hate it and still enjoyed the deep themes of such a general plot.

[Simeon Enchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short tale about the unfortunate consequences, caused by the expected detachment from reality, when one indulges too much in their own understanding of the world.

The author delivers an excellent thought-provoking story which puts you on the spot by making you question whether you’ve fallen victim yourself to your own morals and ideals while dutifully pursuing them.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ivan is the 1862 edition of a performative male. Except he wasn't very good at it, and he definitely wasn't attracting any baddies.

[ren]

me when i try to project my real personality and fail miserably and now everyone has the wrong perception of my person and there’s nothing left to do but be miserable the rest of my life

[CKPineapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm noticing that Dostoyevsky was incredibly talented at creating rather despicable narcissists and their journey into justifying their reprehensible actions, and Ivan Ilyich Pralinsky from this story is no exception.

Illyich is a general who attempts to test his theories of humaneness by inexplicably showing up at his subordinate's wedding despite not being invited. The crux of the story lies in his distorted benevolence and his inability to see past his meagre social issues whilst his very presence brought about some very material consequences to everyone else around him; and it makes it the more cathartic when he is continually denied by others of satisfying his selfish ego.

Favourite quote? "I hope it's not about me, good heavens! But what is it I want... why am I here, why don't I leave, what am I trying to achieve?..."

Favourite moment? The spit was funny but I loved when he got called out.

[Zahir Nabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Nasty Story” by Dostoevsky is a comedic tale of a bureaucrat’s (Ivan Ilyich Pralinsky) misadventures at a wedding, highlighting the gap between intentions and actions. Here Dostoevsky's art exhibits paternalism of educated society and uneducated one and how they both ended up in degradation to both parties.

[Jonathan Wurzelbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little story, first ever story or anything that I have read by Dostoevsky, considering how much I’ve heard about him, I’m surprised it took me so long.

Perfect example of why officers don’t drink with their subordinates. ;)

[Shaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

You had to be there.

[Shuvo · Rating 4 out of 5]

❝চরম❞

[Цветозар · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Шефът ти всъщност е луд" повестта.

[Liv Wojtas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels good to know that even highly regarded Russian aristocrats get hangxiety and overthink

[Caroline Anderson]

This was something alright…. Interesting introduction to Dostoyevsky

[Nife · Rating 2 out of 5]

What...

[Avionne · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I struggled to follow all the names which slowed my reading, I really enjoyed this story.

The writing is good, with plenty of description and wit. You get a clear idea of how the author views the main character though perhaps I was looking for that myself.

The lesson here is that you can have the very best intentions to show the world a different view of yourself but be warned the drink may force you to show your true colours.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

don't get drunk and crash a wedding I guess... maybe I'm just too dumb to understand this on a deeper lever. I've consider learning Russian to see if anything changes.

[✧.* Wren ✧.* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t get drunk and crash a wedding, kids!

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with the collection of white nights of Penguin classics edition,

Dostoyevsky decided that it could be cool a whole book of a drunk man yapping senselessly thinking that everything will be alright, there is a paragraph which I really enjoyed

He was remembering and became more and more lost in his thoughts. We know that entire discourses sometimes take place in our heads in an instant, in the form of some sensations, without translation into human language, much less literary language. But we shall attempt to translate all our hero’s sensations and present to the reader at the very least the essence of these sensations, so to speak, what was most indispensable and plausible in them. Because, you see, many of our sensations, when translated into ordinary language, seem highly unlikely. That’s why they are never brought out into the world, but everybody has them. It goes without saying that Ivan Ilyich’s sensations and thoughts were a bit disjointed. But then you know the reason for that.

[Max Wightwick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, average - lacked any coherent comedy.

[Sinem Pamuk · Rating 3 out of 5]

ehh… didnt impress me much

[Ulises J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4,5/5 stars]

I read this short story in one sitting, and I was quite surprised by how easy was it to follow Dostoevsky's narration. I don't have much to say about it. I chuckled a little at some scenarios, and the author's critique to the hipocrisy behind the humanitarian speeches of the aristocratic high society - common at the time the story was written - is crystal-clear. This is, a speech that is no longer appliable for the same State officials that profess it when it comes to reality: how scary it is for egotistical, empowered men to lose their reputation and respect, things that make them powerful over the worker class, civil society. They, paraphrasing Dostoevsky, are profoundly scared of «falling», with no exceptions, regardless they agree or not with this ultimate conclusion. Power implies ego, and it is no longer sustainable when society decides it's not, from what derives fright, paranoia...; and the cure for this, the key to mantain power upon this instability, is violence, coercion, threats and persecution - or, way softer, "kindlier", through a little more strictness -.
With all this said, the author's critique is very well transmitted, with comedy and satire as main elements to mock those who he's critizicing. To me, he also kind of devalorizes the lower class - with its sole meaning being creating a ridicule gap between this and the tsarist officials -, but let's call it a means of achieving his message.

[Aidan Meidenbauer]

I loved this story. The writing was so engaging that I read the whole thing in one sitting. The Russian names and culture took some getting used to but was super fun to read about. I began by doing a surface level dive into the history of Russia at the time and this helped a lot in understanding Dostoevsky's attitudes while writing as well as the character's stances in the book. The protagonist's optimism and goals seemed very sincere but soon spiraled into chaos. I really enjoyed how this story was not from the perspective of Ivan Pralinksky but still gave a lot of insight into his headspace. The writing made me feel as if I was in the room and that all the focus was on this one man despite there being 30+ people in attendance. The messages about the disconnect between the upper and lower class was extremely transparent and felt like it was delivered really well. I loved all the characters in their own ways and felt as if I got very good understanding of them all with relatively short descriptions and focus given. This was my first Dostoevsky and made me itch to read more as soon as I finished it.

[Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always fun to get back to Dostoevsky

He has a very unique way or writing and after a specific amount of time you'll be able to see through him as a person. 

You can see and fell how his soul was imprinted in his works. 

So much overthinking to the extent that it'll crush your soul, and I can relate to that. 

This was one of a kind, he made an entire boon out of one night in a person's subconscious and inner thoughts, insecurities and fear. 

Also the way that he shows the differences between the high and low level of society was on point. And I really loved the brutal honest that he expressed through the book. 

Because as he showed us here sometimes believing in some principals or prospective can sound soooo good just in our heads, byt when we get a taste of reality, you'll realize that it's quite the opposite. This was a very interesting idea to discuss. 

Dostoevsky will remain to be one of my all time favorite writers, he never disappoints.

[lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I appreciate the most about this short story is how detailed and realistic is the whole process of the main character’s thinking and reading situations and his emotions are described. The narrator clearly explains everything in a factual way but at the same time with sarcasm and humour. Dostoevsky manages to make you feel the anguish and despair of the main character as if you were him, reminds you of all the self loathing moments you have already experienced and makes you wonder if you have lied to yourself and convinced yourself wrongly that you did nothing wrong just to escape that feeling.

It is quite thought provoking but the ending feels rushed, the story would feel complete if the ending was more expanded. The beginning feels a bit slow and I would have liked to read more about Pseldonimov, as a character he had a lot of potential, especially with the developments of his marriage choice and given his character.

[Alice Goldern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dostoevsky, a classic author and sometimes quite a daunting one to read bearing 'Crime and Punishment' Crime and Punishment in mind, but 'A Nasty Story' is short and sweet. Personally, I was inspired by Henry Miller to read some Dostoevsky and it lived up to expectations. The inspiration for Miller particularly for 'Sexus' is evident. 'A Nasty Story' is actually truly humorous, besides the fact that full Russian names are used throughout. It reads really well and definitely worth it, even if it is just to ease into the nature of Russian writing.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first proper introduction to Dostoyevsky, I had read some of the brothers karamazov and then spilt a drink over the book and messed it up lol, so I decided to pick up white nights wich had included this story within it. In shortness I loved this story, for such a simple plot it carried great depth and for me some rlly memorable moments. Dostoyevsky seems to have such a unique writing style that really attaches and draws u into the charectors and events. I’ve seen reviews saying this isn’t a great book and rather forgettable but idk I personally thought it was great, maybe this is due to my lack of knowledge with his works or literature in general but I thoroughly enjoyed it

[Cian Judge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short tale of the arrogance of the upper class, Dostoevsky’s prose draws the reader into the world of a self important, pompous general as he ignorantly imposes on those around him. With some wonderfully written internal dialogue, and subtext of the fears implemented by one’s status regardless of manners, Dostoevsky dazzles in this short tale, covering an abundance of cultural and social themes in less than a hundred pages.

[quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

short, wry, satirical— what more could you want? (warning for second-hand embarrassment though)

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think we all relate to having a stinking hangover like this

[Eirik Bergesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could have been an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. High level cringe comedy.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

godt skrevet novelle ig. følte ydmykelsen hardt!