“Bobok”
Death loosens tongues
StorylineA troubled visitor to a cemetery overhears the dead talking, and discovers that death has done little to improve their manners.
“Nowadays humour and a fine style have disappeared, and abuse is accepted as wit.”
THE SHORT SHOT EDITION
Death has done nothing for their manners.
- EditionShort story
- Estimated reading time25–31 minutesStory · extras excluded
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At a glance
- Work
- Short story
- Author
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Format
- Paperback
THE EDITOR’S TAKE
Death has done nothing for their manners.
Why “Bobok”?
- A cemetery becomes a scandalous conversation that is very difficult to leave.
- Dostoevsky lets vanity and self-justification keep talking well past their allotted time.
A question to savor
If consequences disappeared, would people become more honest—or simply more cruel?
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