The Crocodile
Interesting Facts
- «The Crocodile» is a satirical work in which Dostoevsky mocks the bureaucracy and social order of his time.
- The main character, Ivan Matveich, ends up in the stomach of a crocodile but continues to live and even engage in conversations, serving as an allegory for the absurdity and ridiculousness of certain social phenomena.
- The work was written in 1865 and first published in the magazine «Epoch», which was edited by Dostoevsky's brother, Mikhail.
- «The Crocodile» was intended as the first part of a cycle of satirical stories, but subsequent parts were never written.
- The story is filled with elements of grotesque and fantasy, making it unique in Dostoevsky's oeuvre, as he usually wrote in a more realistic style.
Date of publication: 24 February 2025
Updated: 14 November 2026
———Author:
Genre: Classical literature
Prepared by the Litseller editorial team. Our goal is to share concise, accurate, and valuable book notes for personal growth and education.
Reviewed by the Litseller editorial team before publication, and checked against the book itself. Editorial policy
This material is prepared for educational purposes and is not a reproduction of the original text. We do not use protected elements of the work (text, structure, unique scenes).
Spotted a mistake? Suggest a correction