Fyodor Dostoyevsky

1821 - 1881 *

Russian author of great repute whose ability allowed him to portray complex behaviours with insight and sensitivity.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born in Moscow and had an unhappy childhood. He studied military engineering but abandoned his career to become a writer. His first novel, Poor Folk which focused on the difficulties of the priveledged and was followed by the less successful The Double.

His foray into radical politics where he became involved with French socalist theories that were forbidden under Tzarist rule, lead to a mock execution and final sentencing to Siberia for four years. He served as a common soldier for a further four years.
As a result of these hardships he became an epileptic.

The House of the Dead is a psychologically insightful and graphical account of his experiences in prison. Having access only to a Bible, he denounced his affiliation with atheism and socialism and focused his belief on Christ's teachings on salvation.

Through his monthly periodicals his works were serialised, notably The House of the Dead, The Insulted Injured. In Notes from Underground his philosophical ideologies paved the way for his great novels.

In these last great novels, Dostoyevsky's heores evolve and he sets a background of moral and social issues prevalent at that time. The Brothers Karamazov, completed shortly before his death, is one of his masterpieces.

          Source: Classics Network Editorial Team

These essays offer analysis of the author's life and works. Many of them have been submitted by users, and are assigned an Editorial Rating on a scale from one to five stars to assist you in evaluating their worth. See also: Note on Essays, Editorial Policy.

     

No essays about this author have been added yet. Our database is growing rapidly -- check back soon!

     

Miscellaneous

		The Brothers Karamazov -- A thorough treatment of perhaps Dostoyevsky's greatest work including photos, essays, and a comprehensive biography of the author. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~karamazo/index... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 497 3 users have rated it an average of 5 stars     [rate it] Joyce Carol Oates on Dostoyevsky -- This link contains a pair of excellent essays, written by Joyce Carol Oates, that deal with Dostoyevsky's novels The Possessed (Demons) and The Brother Karamazov, . http://storm.usfca.edu/~southerr/onfyodo... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 312 1 users have rated it an average of 0 stars     [rate it] Four Novels for Online reading -- A particularly good format for comfortablly reading the text of four prominent Dostoyevsky novels on screen. http://www.classicbookshelf.com/library/... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 299 0 users have rated it an average of 0 stars     [rate it] Spelling Dostoyevsky -- A single page of some interest that addresses the multiple spellings of the author's name. http://community.middlebury.edu/~beyer/c... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 166 0 users have rated it an average of 0 stars     [rate it] Dostoyevsky Didn't Say It -- An webpage that traces the source of a quote commonly attributed to Dostoyevsky. http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/f... Editorial Rating: Number of Visitors: 218 0 users have rated it an average of 0 stars     [rate it]

     

...to be acutely conscious is a disease, a real, honest-to-goodnes disease." My debauchery I undertook solitarily, by night, covertly, fearfully, filthily, with a shame that would not abandon me... I was then already bearing the underground in my soul. -- Notes from the Underground

Talking nonsense is man's only privilege that distinguishes him from all other organisms. -- Crime and Punishment

So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find some one to worship. -- The Brother Karamazov

There is no virtue if there is no immortality. -- The Brothers Karamazov

On our earth we can truly love only with suffering and through suffering! We know not how to love otherwise. We know no other love. I want suffering in order to love. -- Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Additional searches

Dostoyevsky at Encarta Encyclopedia

Dostoyevsky at Britannica Encyclopedia

Dostoyevsky at Xrefer.com