Resurrection from the Underground

René Girard, in a groundbreaking analysis of critical themes in Feodor Dostoevsky’s work, explores the Russian author’s “underground”—a site of alienation and resentment. Brilliantly translated, this book is a testament to Girard’s deep engagement with Dostoevsky’s work; through which he discusses numerous aspects of the human condition, including desire, which Girard writes about as “triangular” or “mimetic. ” Intrigued by how religious thinkers from Augustine to Luther have described this phenomenon, Girard delves into literature to illuminate how the mimetic triangle works―as recorded in Dostoevsky's work―and explains how it connects to sources such as Ovid. This interdisciplinary approach allows him to shed new light on faith and redemption in Dostoevsky’s writing, culminating with a revelatory discussion of the author’s spiritual understanding and personal integration. Revival is an essential and thought-provoking companion to Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground.