Notes from Underground

The narrative centers on an unnamed civil servant in St. Petersburg, referred to as the Underground Man, who embodies isolation and existential angst. This groundbreaking work critiques contemporary ideologies like nihilism and utopianism, highlighting the flaws of idealized rationality by emphasizing humanity's irrationality. Its profound influence extends to notable figures such as Kafka and Nietzsche, and it resonates in modern storytelling, exemplified by Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Published in 1864, it is recognized as one of the earliest existentialist novels.