The Little Demon. By Fyodor Sologub FULL Audiobook
"The Little Demon" is a novel by Fyodor Sologub, a Russian writer and poet. The novel was first published in 1907 and quickly became popular, having ten printings during the author's lifetime. The novel is also known as "The Petty Demon" in some translations.

The story is set in an unnamed Russian provincial town and revolves around the life of a sadistic schoolteacher named Peredonov. Peredonov is a misanthrope who lives in constant hatred of the world around him and of life itself. He believes that everyone constantly hates him. Throughout the novel, Peredonov struggles to be promoted to governmental inspector of his province, starts becoming paranoid, and hallucinates a mysterious little demon named Nedotykomka. He finally commits murder in a state of insanity.

The novel also presents a second plotline that follows the idyllic love of the boy Sasha Pylnikov and the girl Ludmila Rutilova. The novel is a satirical depiction of Russian provincial life and the grotesque Russian town and the world of "The Little Demon" are incarnations of poshlost', a Russian concept that has characteristics of both evil and banality. Peredonov and his demon Nedotykomka are the personifications of poshlost'.

The novel is a blend of Symbolism and Realism. The realistic and satirical depiction of Russian provincial life and the omniscient third-person narrative allowed Sologub to combine his Symbolist tendencies and the tradition of Russian Realism in which he engaged throughout his earlier novels. The novel may be read as a satire on Russian provincial life, but Sologub's intention was to paint life itself as an evil creation of God.

The book has been translated into English several times. The authorized translation of the book is "The Little Demon" by John Cournos and Richard Aldington. Other translations include "The Petty Demon" by Andrew Field, "The Little Demon" by Ronald Wilks, and "The Petty Demon" by Samuel D. Cioran. The novel has been praised for its realistic and satirical depiction of Russian provincial life and its ability to combine Symbolism and Realism. It has also been criticized for its dark and disturbing themes, including sadism, insanity, and murder.

I hope this summary helps you understand the novel better. Let me know if you have any other questions!.
More: Fyodor Sologub, The Little Demon, Ardalyon Borisitch Peredonov
Russian literature, Symbolist novel, Provincial Russian life
Paranoid character, Banal and bereft of goodness, Hallucinations
Shadowy creature, Sadism, Arson
Murder, Black comedy, Dark humor

00:00:00 Translators’ Preface
00:04:50 Author’s Preface to the Second Russian Edition, 1908
00:08:06 Author’s Preface to the Fifth Russian Edition, 1909
00:10:17 Dialogue to the Seventh Russian Edition, 1913
00:11:23 Author’s Introduction to the English Edition
00:14:51 The Little Demon. I
00:41:07 II
01:08:05 III
01:22:55 IV
01:44:57 V
02:08:34 VI
02:32:38 VII
02:46:24 VIII
03:07:16 IX
03:25:52 X
03:49:29 XI
04:10:25 XII
04:35:38 XIII
04:53:50 XIV
05:09:42 XV
05:34:05 XVI
05:56:08 XVII
06:14:37 XVIII
06:31:02 XIX
06:56:50 XX
07:14:37 XXI
07:32:32 XXII
07:53:57 XXIII
08:14:37 XXIV
08:37:23 XXV
08:59:32 XXVI
09:22:04 XXVII
09:35:07 XXVIII
09:55:45 XXIX
10:10:58 XXX
10:27:22 XXXI
10:41:42 XXXII

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