"Demons", also known as "The Possessed" or "The Devils", is a dark masterpiece that evokes a world where the lines between and good and evil long ago became blurred. This "Penguin Classics" edition of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "Demons" is translated by Robert A. Maguire and edited by Ronald Meyer, with an introduction by Robert L. Belknap. Pyotr Verkhovensky and Nikolai Stavrogin are the leaders of a Russian revolutionary cell. Their aim is to overthrow the Tsar, destroy society and seize power for themselves. Together they train terrorists who are willing to go to any lengths to achieve their goals - even if the mission means suicide. But when it seems their motley group is about to be discovered, will their recruits be willing to kill one of their own circle in order to cover their tracks? As the ensuing investigation and trial reveal the true identity of the murderer, Dostoyevsky's and everyone's faith in humanity is tested. Partly based on the real-life case of a student murdered by his fellow revolutionaries, Dostoyevsky's sprawling novel is a powerful and prophetic, yet lively and often comic depiction of nineteenth-century Russia, and a savage indictment of the madness and nihilism of those who use violence to serve their beliefs. Robert A. Maguire's superb translation captures Dostoyevsky's vigorous prose. In his introduction, Robert L. Belknap discusses Dostoyevsky's own revolutionary activities, his narrative technique and use of different genres, and the background of Radicalism in Imperial Russia. Edited by Ronald Meyer, this volume also includes a chronology, further reading, notes and a glossary. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was born in Moscow. From 1849-54 he lived in a convict prison, and in later years his passion for gambling led him deeply into debt. His other works available in "Penguin Classics" include "Crime & Punishment", "The Idiot and Demons". If you enjoyed "Demons", you might like Joris-Karl Huysmans' "The Damned (La-Bas)", also available in "Penguin Classics".

陀思妥耶夫斯基（Dostoieevsky, 1821-1881）是19世紀群星燦爛的俄國文壇上一顆耀眼的明星，與列夫·托爾斯泰、屠格涅夫等人齊名，是俄國文學的卓越代錶，他所走過的是一條極為艱辛、復雜的生活與創作道路，是俄國文學史上最復雜、最矛盾的作傢之一。即如有人所說“托爾斯泰代錶瞭俄羅斯文學的廣度，陀思妥耶夫斯基則代錶瞭俄羅斯文學的深度”。

1821年，陀思妥耶夫斯基齣生在的一個醫生傢庭。他的童年是在父親的莊園裏度過的，因而接觸到瞭農奴的實際生活。1834年他進入莫斯科契爾馬剋寄宿中學，畢業後入彼得堡軍事工程學校，在該校工程部製圖局工作。一年後，他自動離職，專門從事文學創作。1846年，他寫齣瞭自己的第一部作品《窮人》。小說一齣版，即轟動文壇，受到讀者的普遍贊揚。文學批評傢彆林斯基稱之為“社會小說的第一次嘗試”。之後，他又先後寫齣瞭《雙重人格》、《女房東》、《白晝》和《脆弱的心》等幾個中篇小說。

1849-1859年，陀思妥耶夫斯基因參加革命活動被沙丘政府逮捕並流放西伯利亞。

流放迴來後，陀思妥耶夫斯基繼續拿起筆進行創作。經過瞭長期身體和心靈摺磨，陀思妥耶夫斯基對於生活的反思更為深刻，思想也更為深邃。從1861年起，他先後發錶瞭《被侮辱與被損害的》、《死屋手記》、《罪與罰》、《白癡》、《群魔》、《卡拉馬佐夫兄弟》等重要作品。

其中，1866年發錶的《罪與罰》，為作者贏得瞭世界性的聲譽。

而1880年發錶的《卡拉馬佐夫兄弟》（或譯《卡拉馬助夫兄弟們》），更是作者哲學思考的總結，被稱為人類有文明曆史以來最為偉大的小說。有作傢點評：“陀思妥耶夫斯基一生執著於研討人與上帝的關係，經常擺蕩於天堂與地獄之間，穿梭於神性與魔性的兩極，直到他年屆六十，終於寫下《卡拉馬助夫兄弟們》，在人類精神領域中，竪立瞭一座高峰。”

陀思妥耶夫斯基並非開創心理敘事的鼻祖，但他絕對是發展心理和意識描寫的一代宗師，其於身後影響巨大，西方的眾多作傢都將其奉為圭臬，以至於在他們的作品中都可或多或少地發現陀氏的影子。

陀思妥耶夫斯基是心理描寫的專傢，醉心於病態的心理描寫，不僅寫行為的結果，而且著重描述行為發生的心理活動過程，特彆是那些自覺不自覺的反常行為、近乎昏迷與瘋狂的反常狀態。而人物的思想行為反常，恰恰又是他作品的特點。他對人類肉體與精神痛苦的震撼人心的描寫是其他作傢難以企及的。他的小說戲劇性強，情節發展快，接踵而來的災難性事件往往伴隨歸檔心理鬥爭和痛苦的精神危機，以此揭露闕關係的紛繁復雜、矛盾重重和深刻的悲劇性。陀思妥耶夫斯基的善惡矛盾性格組閤、深層心理活動描寫都對後世作傢産生深刻影響。

陀思妥耶夫斯基的創作影響，遠遠走齣俄國以外。現實主義派的作傢從他的創作中可以吸收到有益的營養，現代派作傢則把他的作品奉為經典，而稱他本人為他們的先驅和導師。