Fyodor Dostoyevsky was a Russian novelist who wrote insightful literature about the human soul. He lived in poverty and served in the military before pursuing a career as a writer. He was imprisoned in Siberia for his associations with socialists and later explored Western Europe. His books, including Crime and Punishment, dealt with poverty and redemption and had heavy religious themes. He gained recognition in his last years and is still revered as one of Russia’s best writers.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was a noted Russian novelist who contributed his thoughtful and insightful literature to 19th-century Russia and the world. His work has been translated into numerous languages and is still commonly read and referred to in academic circles. Fyodor Dostoevsky had a rare talent for capturing the depths of the human soul, in times of darkness and happiness, brought about in part by his own difficult life. While his characters are often poor 19th-century Russians, many of the issues they struggle with resonate with readers of all cultures and classes.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky lived most of his life in poverty. He was born in the Moscow hospital for the poor, where his father worked as a doctor. Later, his father bought land and servants, and died under mysterious circumstances in 1839 – many biographers have suggested that he was murdered by his own servants, rather than dying of apoplexy as has been widely reported. Fyodor Dostoevsky studied at the St. Petersburg Military Academy and received his commission in 1842. Although his interest in military engineering was minimal, the academy allowed him to broaden his knowledge of Russian and French literature.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky served in the military for only two years, resigning his post in 1844 to pursue a career as a writer and man of letters. In 1846, his first book, Poor Folk, came out. He also found work translating numerous works by French authors, including Balzac and Sand. Undoubtedly, these authors had a strong influence on the writing of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, which has many similarities in style and subject matter.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky was imprisoned in Siberia in 1849 for his associations with socialists. While in Siberia, he renewed his religious faith and his writing took a different turn after his release and subsequent four years of service in the military. In 1860, Dostoevsky published The House of the Dead, a novel about prison life in the harsh extremes of Siberia.
Fyodor Dostoevsky also travelled, exploring much of Western Europe before marrying Maria Isaev in 1857. He continued to work as a writer and journalist, editing a socialist newspaper until its suppression. In 1864, Dostoevsky was struck by the tragedy of the double death of his wife and brother. He found himself saddled with his brother’s debt and turned to gambling in an attempt to extricate himself, but instead endured a long bout of depression and a day-to-day existence.
Dostoyevsky’s books from this period, including Crime and Punishment (1866), The Idiot (1868) and The Possessed (1871), are dark explorations of the human soul, poverty and the state of Russian society. Many of these novels deal with frustration and redemption and have heavy religious themes. During this period, Dostoyevsky had a stormy marriage to his stenographer, Anna Snitkina, who remained married to him until her death in 1881.
In the last years of his life, Fyodor Dostoyevsky began to gain recognition from Russian society for his work and the immense contributions he had made to the body of Russian literature. Thousands of Russians came to mourn him at his funeral, and he is still revered as one of Russia’s best writers. Fyodor Dostoyevsky was arguably one of the greatest writers of the 19th century, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking work.
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