The Idiot

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Idiot is Dostoyevsky’s portrait of innocence colliding with a corrupt world. This annotated edition includes an original introduction, a biographical essay on Dostoyevsky’s life and inner world, and a cultural essay examining its impact on literature, cinema, and existential thought—with references to filmmakers such as Kurosawa.

What happens when pure goodness enters a world that doesn’t know what to do with it? Prince Myshkin returns to Russia after years in a Swiss sanatorium, his kindness and sincerity setting him apart in a society driven by ambition, manipulation, and desire. Yet the very qualities that make him unique also make him vulnerable, drawing him into a web of love, rivalry, and betrayal.

Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot is a profound exploration of innocence and idealism colliding with a world that values power over virtue. Through Myshkin’s journey, the novel grapples with enduring questions about morality, fate, and the human capacity for both compassion and cruelty. Emotionally complex and psychologically rich, The Idiot remains an unforgettable reflection on the fragile nature of goodness.

At Other Minds Publishing, we present this edition as part of an ongoing artistic dialogue—to amplify how Dostoyevsky’s influence continues to shape literature, cinema, and artistic expression, inspiring new interpretations of his work across generations.