Strange Life of Ivan Osokin
Encyclopedia
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. The conclusion fully anticipates the Fourth Way Philosophy which typified Ouspensky's later works. In particular the final chapter's description of the shocking realization of the mechanical nature of existence, its consequences, and the possibility/responsibility of working in an esoteric school.
P. D. Ouspensky
Peter D. Ouspensky , , a Russian esotericist known for his expositions of the early work of the Greek-Armenian teacher of esoteric doctrine George Gurdjieff, whom he met in Moscow in 1915.He was associated with the ideas and practices originating with...
. 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. The conclusion fully anticipates the Fourth Way Philosophy which typified Ouspensky's later works. In particular the final chapter's description of the shocking realization of the mechanical nature of existence, its consequences, and the possibility/responsibility of working in an esoteric school.
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
When the protagonist realizes that he can recall having lived his life before, he decides to try to change it. But he discovers that because human choices tend to be mechanical, changing the outcome of one's actions is extremely difficult. He realizes that without help breaking his mechanical behavior, he may be doomed to repeat the same mistakes forever.Characters
- Ivan Osokin, 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
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 ?? Oct 1947
- 1947, First Trade Edition, USA, Holmes ISBN 0571095879, ISBN 978-0571095872, Pub date ?? ??? 1947, Hardback
- 1948, First Edition, UK, Faber & Faber, ISBN 0571095879, Pub date ?? ??? 1948, Hardback
Sources, references, external links, quotations
- Strange Life of Ivan Osokin at Gurdjieff International Review.
- Synopsis TimeTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
online, November 17, 1947 - Strange Life of Ivan Osokin Excerpts at Google Books