In the book Demons (by Dostoyevsky), there was a character, named Pyotr Stepanovich Verkhovensky, who claimed that he was connected to the international.
Did Dostoyevsky mention anywhere in the book that he really was?
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I haven't read the book, so apologies if this is clarified in it, but: that is a rather odd use of "international", as a noun. What does it mean? Is "the international" some group within the book? – muru Feb 19 '17 at 2:13
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The International Working Men Association was an organization of a certain historical importance. – Denis Nardin Sep 27 at 16:13
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Pyotr Stepanovic Verkhovensky was based on a Russian revolutionary during the time of Dostoevsky, Sergei Nechaev. Nechaev was masterful in creating fictitious networks of secret societies and claiming to have links to some greater organization (eg. the "international"). The reality was that he had no links, much like Pyotr equally doesn't have such links. The "international" is a made-up organisation that Pyotr used to manipulate others in the novel.
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The International Working Men Association was a very real organization, founded in 1864, with a lot of branches in the various European countries. Do you have reasons to believe that Stepanovich was not affiliated? – Denis Nardin Sep 27 at 16:06
