<p>Both a masterpiece of Russian populist writing and a parody of the entire genre <em>Poor People</em> is an early example of Dostoevsky’s genius.</p> <p>Written as a series of letters <em>Poor People</em> is the tragic tale of a petty clerk and his impossible love for a young girl. Longing to help her and her family he sells everything he can but his kindness leads him only into more desperate poverty and ultimately into debauchery. As a typical “man of the underground” he serves as the embodiment of the belief that happiness can only be achieved with riches.</p> <p>This work is remarkable for its vivid characterizations especially of Dievushkin the clerk solely by means of his letters to the young girl and her answers to him.</p></P><P>A Blackstone Audio production.</P>