Satire Comedy Marriage Social Climbing Ageing Deception Manipulation
Uncle's Dream is satirical novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky and first published in 1859.
Mixing humor and irony, Dostoevsky this time brings us a story set in a small town where the ambitious widow Maria Alexandrovna Moskalyova, intends to find a blissful match for her daughter Zinaida.
Her plan is to marry Zinaida to a wealthy old nobleman (the uncle) who is visiting the town, and although the gentleman is senile and very grotesque, the widow sees the perfect opportunity to make a place for herself in the high society of St. Petersburg and thus be able to move up in the social classes of the time.
The novel explores themes of social ambition, manipulation, the absurdities of high society, and the lengths to which people will go to achieve their goals.
"Maria Alexandrovna Moskaleva was the principal lady of Mordasoff—there was no doubt whatever on that point! She always bore herself as though she did not care a fig for anyone, but as though no one else could do without her. True, there were uncommonly few who loved her—in fact I may say that very many detested her; still, everyone was afraid of her, and that was what she liked!"
#172 in Literary fiction (this month)
#16 in Novella (this month)
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Copyright info
Uncle's Dream by Fyodor Dostoevsky is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading Uncle's Dream in PDF or ePub.
Dostoevsky, playful: a provincial comedy about vanity, gossip, and the marriage market. The stakes are small and human; the wit lands lightly while the psychology stays sharp. It’s a reminder that he could be very funny without losing depth.
Ambition and image still run on rumor. This novella is a polite mirror with a raised eyebrow.
Drawing-room maneuvers.
Pretensions in daylight.
Laugh without cruelty.
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Psychological depth and moral crisis under pressure; fiction that tests conscience, freedom, and society.
We have 21 books by Fyodor Dostoevsky in the AliceAndBooks library