"The Idiot" is a novel written by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, first published in 1869. The story follows Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin, a kind-hearted and naive man who returns to Russia after spending years in a Swiss sanatorium. His innocence and honesty contrast sharply with the corruption and moral ambiguity of the society around him. As Myshkin navigates the complexities of love, friendship, and societal expectations, he becomes entangled in the lives of several characters, including the beautiful Nastasya Filippovna and the ambitious Parfyon Rogozhin. The novel explores themes of morality, the nature of goodness, and the challenges of being an "idiot" in a world driven by selfishness.