Dostojevski

Dostojevski, full name Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821–1881), was a Russian novelist and short-story writer recognized as one of the major figures in world literature. He is known for psychological depth, moral inquiry, and a keen examination of faith, doubt, and human suffering.

Born in Moscow, Dostoevsky studied at the Military Engineering School before turning to literature. In 1849 he was arrested for involvement with the Petrashevsky Circle, condemned to death, and then reprieved at the last moment. He spent four years in a Siberian penal camp, an experience that profoundly influenced his later fiction. After his release, he returned to St. Petersburg and began writing with renewed interest in human psychology and social issues.

His most famous novels include Crime and Punishment (1866), a study of guilt and conscience; The Idiot (1869), which explores innate goodness and societal corruption; Demons (The Possessed) (1872), a political and philosophical critique of radicalism; and The Brothers Karamazov (1880), a culmination of his spiritual and ethical concerns. Dostoevsky employed a polyphonic narrative approach, presenting competing voices and viewpoints without a single authoritative moral verdict.

Dostoevsky’s work influenced later literary movements, including existentialism and psychological realism, and he is often cited for his profound exploration of freedom, responsibility, faith, and the complexity of the human soul. He died in Saint Petersburg in 1881, leaving a legacy as a foundational figure in modern fiction.