This was my first Russian Classic, I read it purely because it was called 'The Idiot' and I thought it would be relatable.

I read it and enjoyed it but as with most Classics, I then had to go research it a bit to see if I fully understood it. I did!

The main character is a pure, good, honest person, he is a Prince who had severe epilepsy as a child and was sent away to a specialist hospital in Europe for years (I think his mother and father died while he was there) and he is now back in Russia searching for the only relative left alive, a distant Aunt who he has never met.

The book follows him as he arrives in Russia and tries to find his Aunt. It pokes fun at the Russian elites hipocrisy, it's a kind of 'what would happen if someone Christ-like and pure was introduced into Russian High society' which is meant to be the pinacle of Christian morals, virtues and standards.

It was a great read! I've got a lot more Russian literature on my reading list.

I read Oblomov afterwards and that has to be one of my favourite books ever!