The Double

The inspiration for the 2014 British black comedy of the same name, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska, this 1846 novella by Fyodor Dostoyevsky-his second book, after Poor Folk-follows a lonely government clerk named Golyadkin. Shy, awkward, blundering, Golyadkin finds himself pursued by a mysterious stranger who looks somehow familiar. In fact, he looks exactly like him, and even has the same name. But this new Golyadkin is charming and confident, and soon begins insinuating himself into the real Golyadkin`s life. He works at his office, stays at his apartment, ingratiates himself with his colleagues, yet no one seems surprised. Who is he? What does he want? Is he a double, or something darker?