Darkness at Noon

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Quizzes

Portrait of young thinking bearded man student with stack of books on the table before bookshelves in the library

Famous Novels, First Lines Quiz

Young woman with glasses reading a book, student

Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz

Textbook chalkboard and apple. Fruit of knowledge. Hompepage blog 2009, History and Society, school education students

The Literary World (Famous Novels)

Books. Reading. Publishing. Print. Literature. Literacy. Rows of used books for sale on a table.

Name the Novelist

Darkness at Noon

novel by Koestler

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Share to social media

Facebook X

URL

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Darkness-at-Noon

Feedback

Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).

Feedback Type

Your Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Academia - Approaching Infinity: Dignity in Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon

verifiedCite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

Select Citation Style

Share to social media

Facebook X

URL

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Darkness-at-Noon

Feedback

Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).

Feedback Type

Your Feedback

Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

Academia - Approaching Infinity: Dignity in Arthur Koestler's Darkness at Noon

Written and fact-checked by

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Darkness at Noon, novel by Arthur Koestler, published in 1940. The action is set during Joseph Stalin’s purge trials of the 1930s and concerns Nicholas Rubashov, an old-guard Bolshevik who at first denies, then confesses to, crimes that he has not committed. Reflecting Koestler’s own disenchantment with communism, the plot examines the dilemma of an aging revolutionary who can no longer condone the excesses of a regime he helped establish. The book is a powerful examination of the moral danger inherent in a system that is willing to employ any means to an end.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.