DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Nietzsche and Dostoevsky

On the Verge of Nihilism

Paolo Stellino author António Marques editor Nuno Venturinha editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Peter Lang AG, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften

Published:17th Sep '15

Should be back in stock very soon

Nietzsche and Dostoevsky cover

The first time that Nietzsche crossed the path of Dostoevsky was in the winter of 1886–87. While in Nice, Nietzsche discovered in a bookshop the volume L’esprit souterrain. Two years later, he defined Dostoevsky as the only psychologist from whom he had anything to learn. The second, metaphorical encounter between Nietzsche and Dostoevsky happened on the verge of nihilism. Nietzsche announced the death of God, whereas Dostoevsky warned against the danger of atheism.
This book describes the double encounter between Nietzsche and Dostoevsky. Following the chronological thread offered by Nietzsche’s correspondence, the author provides a detailed analysis of Nietzsche’s engagement with Dostoevsky from the very beginning of his discovery to the last days before his mental breakdown. The second part of this book aims to dismiss the wide-spread and stereotypical reading according to which Dostoevsky foretold and criticized in his major novels some of Nietzsche’s most dangerous and nihilistic theories. In order to reject such reading, the author focuses on the following moral dilemma: If God does not exist, is everything permitted?

«About Nietzsche’s relationship with the great Russian novelist, Paolo Stellino has written the most erudite commentary in any language. [...] The result is a model of clear-headed scholarship that blends disciplinary skills as seamlessly as it does stylistic fluidity, as pleasurable to read as it is informative.»
(Anthony K. Jensen, The Dostoevsky Journal 19/2018)

«S.s Monographie reiht sich in einige wichtige Untersuchungen der letzten Jahre zum Verhältnis Nietzsche/Dostojewskis ein. Die heute geforderte philologische Arbeit und die interpretatorischen Leistungen stehen in einem guten Verhältnis.»
(Silvio Pfeuffer, Nietzscheforschung Band 23, Heft 1/2016)

ISBN: 9783034316705

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 350g

247 pages

New edition