Classics · Historical
The Idiot
Prince Myshkin returns to Russia after treatment abroad, a kind, trusting man in a society that does not know what to do with him. He is drawn into the rivalries around a beautiful, troubled woman.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1869
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 784
- Format
- Book 1 of 1 in The Idiot, in 3 Vol
Read this if you like long, character-driven classics about goodness, morality and love going wrong.
Skip this if you want a quick read, or you find nineteenth-century talk-heavy novels tiring.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about The Idiot
- What is The Idiot about?
- Prince Myshkin returns to Russia after treatment abroad, a kind, trusting man in a society that does not know what to do with him. He is drawn into the rivalries around a beautiful, troubled woman.
- Who should read The Idiot?
- Read it if you like long, character-driven classics about goodness, morality and love going wrong. Skip it if you want a quick read, or you find nineteenth-century talk-heavy novels tiring.
- How long and how fast is The Idiot?
- It is a slow-paced, long read of about 784 pages, first published in 1869.
- Does The Idiot have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Violence.
- Can I borrow The Idiot for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Idiot; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Idiot?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Crime and Punishment, Anna Karenina, A Prayer for Owen Meany.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved The Idiot
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Crime and Punishment Dostoevsky's tighter, darker moral drama, with a plot that moves faster.
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Anna Karenina Another Russian classic about love, society and what happens when feeling meets convention.
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A Prayer for Owen Meany
A modern novel built around an unusually sincere character at odds with the world.
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