As I make my way through “The Devils” I do keep finding myself thinking how strikingly relevant Dostoevsky still is. This particular passage stood out, as one of his characters tries to sum up the issues of nationalism and the conflict of religions:
The aim of every national movement, in the case of every nation and at every stage of its existence, is nothing but the search for God, for its own God, unfailingly its own God, and belief in him as the only true God. God is the synthesis of all the people of an entire nation, from its beginning to its end. It has never been the case when all or many nations have possessed a single common God, but each nation has always had its own separate one. The signal for a nation’s extinction comes when it begins to share its God with other nations. Whenever there are gods that are shared between nations, then the gods die, together with people’s faith in them and with the nations themselves. The more powerful a nation, the more particular is its God. There has never been a nation without religion…
Dostoevsky’s Nihilists are a dark bunch, and their behaviour gets darker as the book goes on. It’s worth recalling what a life he’d had by the time he wrote “The Devils”, in particular his narrow escape from execution and his exile as well as a rackety life and the loss of his first child. I’ll be writing more about this remarkable book, as I think I’m approaching the home straight of my marathon. It’s been a long journey, but very rewarding…
JacquiWine
Apr 05, 2019 @ 07:44:36
It’s interesting how many of these classic writers still feel very relevant today. Even though the context of events will change over time, many of the underlying human motives and emotions remain broadly the same…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 05, 2019 @ 11:15:18
They really are – and you’re right, despite all the superficial changes, humans are still the same underneath….
madamebibilophile
Apr 05, 2019 @ 08:02:18
I find it simultaneously depressing and reassuring that the classic writers are as relevant now as ever. Will we never learn? But at least we have great minds to guide us (in the past, not our leaders now 😀 ) if only we’d listen…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 05, 2019 @ 11:14:46
Me too. We *don’t* seem to learn from the past – if only we’d listened to the great minds because as you say there aren’t any leading us at the moment…. 😦
heavenali
Apr 05, 2019 @ 17:05:47
I can see why that extract leapt out at you, how very relevant it still sounds. So glad your reading of The Devils is proving so worthwhile.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 06, 2019 @ 20:31:27
I did indeed stand out – there’s so much in the book that seems fresh and modern. I’m getting a lot from Dostoevsky as usual!
Jane
Apr 06, 2019 @ 17:42:24
Is this what makes a classic, that it is still as relevant today? There’s lots to think about in that passage
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 06, 2019 @ 20:30:44
That may be it. Certainly all the really great books transcend their times and speak to us as humans wherever and whenever we are. There’s so much in this book I could pull out – goodness knows how I’ll ever write a sensible post about it!
Jane
Apr 07, 2019 @ 12:55:04
Well, I’m looking forward to reading whatever you write! The Classics Challenge has got me to tackle Russians for the first time and I’m yet to read a Dostoevsky, so I’m all ears.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Apr 07, 2019 @ 13:10:03
Then you have treats in store! Although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend The Devils as your starting point with Dostoevsky. Mine was Crime and Punishment, which is of course magnificent. But for a shorter into I love both The Gambler and The Double, and they do give you a really good flavour of his style!
Who was changed and who was dead – some thoughts on Dostoevsky’s “The Devils” – @almaclassics | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Apr 18, 2019 @ 06:52:49