DemonsDemons
Score Classic
What it's about
In a provincial Russian town, a small group of young radicals forms a secret revolutionary cell, led by Pyotr Verkhovensky, a manipulative schemer, and inspired by Nikolai Stavrogin, a charismatic, aristocratic nihilist. As they sow chaos and rumor through the town, the cell's plans turn to murder. Dostoevsky based the plot on a real 1869 killing by a revolutionary group, and wrote it as a warning about where political fanaticism leads.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben World Library of the greatest books. It's both darkly comic and terrifying, and many readers think it predicted the revolutionary violence of the century that followed.
You'll love it if you liked
The Brothers Karamazov
Crime and Punishment
The TrialGood to know
It's also published as The Possessed and The Devils. The first part is slow and satirical, then it speeds up. Some editions include a suppressed chapter about Stavrogin's confession; it describes child abuse.
By the numbers
- Readers92 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
More by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Brothers KaramazovCrime and Punishment
The Idiot
Notes From UndergroundIf you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Demons worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben World Library of the greatest books. It ranks #322 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 81.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Demons about?
In a provincial Russian town, a small group of young radicals forms a secret revolutionary cell, led by Pyotr Verkhovensky, a manipulative schemer, and inspired by Nikolai Stavrogin, a charismatic, aristocratic nihilist. As they sow chaos and rumor through the town, the cell's plans turn to murder. Dostoevsky based the plot on a real 1869 killing by a revolutionary group, and wrote it as a warning about where political fanaticism leads.
How long does it take to read Demons?
About 14 hours (565 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Demons?
If you liked it, try The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky or The Trial by Franz Kafka.