The Double

The Double" by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novella published in 1846 that tells the story of Yakov Petrovich Golyadkin, a shy government clerk in Saint Petersburg. His life falls apart when a mysterious double appears who not only resembles him physically but also begins to take his place in society and at work. While the double succeeds and fulfills Golyadkin's dreams, the original Golyadkin increasingly descends into madness, unable to distinguish reality from delusions. The narrative culminates in a tragic ending that finds Golyadkin in a psychiatric hospital, providing a profound exploration of themes such as loss of identity, paranoia, and the breakdown of the human psyche.

Reading ease score: 70.5 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.