Strange Life of Ivan Osokin

Strange Life of Ivan Osokin

Infobox Book |
name = The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Pytor Demianovich Ouspensky
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = Russia
language = Russian
series =
subject =
genre =
publisher =
pub_date = 1915
english_pub_date = 1947
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages = 166 hardback (first english edition)
isbn = NA
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin" is a novel by P. D. Ouspensky. It follows the unsuccessful struggle of Ivan Osokin to correct his mistakes when given a chance to relive his past. The novel serves as a narrative platform for Nietzsche's theory of "eternal recurrence"Fact|date=July 2008. The conclusion fully anticipates the Fourth Way Philosophy which typified Ouspensky's later worksFact|date=July 2008. In particular the final chapter's description of the shocking realization of the mechanical nature of existence, it's consequences, and the possibility/responsibility of working in an esoteric school.

Plot introduction

Explanation of the novel's title

The title derives the experience of Ivan Osokin living and then reliving his life again in exactly the same way but with prior knowledge of his past mistakes the second time. The title is an ironic commentary on this experience.

Plot summary

Characters

* Ivan Oskoin, the main character of the novel
* The Magican, a minor but important character who makes appearances at the beginning and end of the novel, a possible reference to Ouspensky's teacher George Gurdjieff

Major themes

Literary significance and reception

Publication history

12 editions, OCLC 2223435

*1915, First Edition, Russia, publisher, ISBN 1234567890, Pub date ?? ??? 1915
*1947, Limited Edition (356 copies), UK, Stourton Press, ISBN 1234567890, Pub date ?? ??? 1947
*1947, First Trade Edition, USA, Holmes ISBN 10: 0571095879, ISBN-13: 9780571095872, Pub date ?? ??? 1947, Hardback
*1948, First Edition, UK, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0571095879, Pub date ?? ??? 1948, Hardback

ources, references, external links, quotations

*Gurdjieff International Review [http://www.gurdjieff.org/bibliography4.htm]
*Time magazine online [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,887728,00.html]
*Goggle Books [http://books.google.com/books?id=a7KXM1mQfT0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+strange+life+of+Ivan+Osokin&sig=Gw89Tv6M6I7Thd-1SwrGf_u9bVY]


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