The Little Demon is a dark and twisted tale set in a small provincial town in Russia, portraying the moral and psychological decay of society. The novel follows Peredonov, a deeply paranoid and delusional man, whose spiraling insanity wreaks havoc on his surroundings. As one of the first works to depict psychological terror in Russian literature, Sologub's exploration of human depravity, madness, and metaphysical evil draws the reader into a deeply unsettling narrative that is both allegorical and realistic.

Why read this book

• A key work of Russian symbolism and one of the earliest psychological novels in Russian literature.
• Offers a haunting exploration of human nature and the effects of paranoia and insanity.
• Sologub masterfully combines dark, surreal elements with sharp social critique.
• Explores themes of ambition, madness, and moral decay, which are still relevant today.

About the Author

Fyodor Sologub, born in 1863, was a Russian symbolist writer, poet, and playwright. He was known for his pessimistic and gothic portrayals of society, where evil is ever-present. The Little Demon is his most famous work and established him as one of the key figures of the Russian literary tradition. Sologub’s contributions to Russian literature were part of a larger movement that fused symbolism with existential and psychological explorations.