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Fyodor Dostoevsky

1821 - 1881

Great Russian Novelist

by Rit Nosotro First Published:: 2003

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Fyodor Dostoevsky was one of the greatest novelists of all times. Not only did this Russian have the ability to touch people through his descriptions of human nature, pain and suffering, but he also seemed to have a wonderful grasp of the growing problems of the world, as can be seen when he said "the West has lost Christ and that is why it is dying; that is the only reason." He had the talent of understanding the motive behind the actions of men, particularly criminals. Dostoevsky captured these motives and put them into his masterpieces such as "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov." He used his stories of human nature to contrast what man is like, to what God has done for us. And with these works, he touched and changed the lives of countless readers.

Born in Moscow on November 8, 1821, Dostoevsky was the second oldest of seven children. Along with his three brothers and three younger sisters, Dostoevsky experienced a home that centered around faith and education. He used to spend hours with his brother, reading Pushkin and the Bible by candlelight. His father, Mikhail, was a doctor from a dying noble family, and Maria, his mother, became sick and died in 1837. During his childhood, Fyodor Dostoevsky was close to his older brother, Mikhail, but after their mother's death, they were sent to different boarding schools, with Fyodor attending the Military Engineering Academy in St. Petersburg. In 1839 Dostoevsky's father died, and in 1844 he resigned as an engineer, and became dedicated to a writing career. Dostoevsky's first novel, "Poor Folk," was powerfully emotional when it came out in 1846. Critics hailed it as a success, but it was less popular among readers, so Dostoevsky began contributing short stories to a monthly periodical by the name of "Annals of the Country." However, despite the intensity of his writings and his general popularity, he was poorly paid. Because of this, bad living conditions, and ill health, Dostoevsky was discouraged with life.

In 1847, Dostoevsky joined the revolutionary ranks of Petrachevski, a Russian political agitator against Tzar Nicholas I. Although Dostoevsky was enthusiastic, he and the other young followers did little more then discuss economic theories at their meetings. However, amplified reports of their gatherings reached the police, and on April 23, 1849, Dostoevsky, his brother, and approximately thirty others were arrested. During his imprisonment he penned "A Little Hero." Sources vary as to his exact sentence, and how much of this he actually served. It is generally believed that in November of 1849, Dostoevsky was sentenced to death, but instead found himself with a 4 year sentence of exile to the wastelands of Siberia, followed by mandatory military service.

When Alexander II took control of Russia, Dostoevsky finally gained his freedom. However, his time spent away changed him drastically. Not only did it cure him of his radical ideas and lead him to a religious life, but more important for literature, it gave him depth of insight into the minds of the dark side of Russian life. Out of this new Dostoevsky flowed a fourteen year long writing spurt, which included some of his best works such as "The House of the Dead" in 1862, "Notes From The Underground," which was published in 1864, and his 1866 masterpiece "Crime and Punishment."

Despite literary achievements, Dostoevsky's private life did not mirror the success of his books. With his brother, he ran a series of literary journals, which were unsuccessful. He married Maria Dmitrievna Isaeva, but his life was shaken when she and his brother died in quick succession in 1864. Settled in St Petersburg, he was left with his brother's widow and children to support financially, and yet he had debts and a bad gambling habit. Because of huge loses, Dostoevsky had to flee Russia, seeking asylum from his creditors in Germany and Italy.

On February 15, 1867, Dostoevsky married his stenographer, Anna Grigorevna Snitkina. While this provided him with much needed stability, things were still not well for him, as his health was deteriorating, and he found himself with an increasing number of epileptic fits, and other ailments. Returning to Russia in the early 70's, he at last gained stability, directing "The Russian World," and publishing the "Writer's Diary," a monthly journal filled with short stories, and articles commenting on the events of the time. Happy during the last years of his life, Fyodor Dostoevsky died on February 9, 1881 in St Petersburg. He is buried at the Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St Petersburg.

Dostoevsky touched many people with the underlying themes of his writings. While most of the main characters of his novels were atheists, Dostoevsky used these figures to show what men are like when they do not know God. In contrast, he used minor characters, such as a peasant woman, to display God's grace to people. Another truth Dostoevsky portrayed in his novels was that of the power of the Scriptures. For example, in his well known "Crime and Punishment," Dostoevsky chose to conclude the story of Raskolnikov with him converted in the prison camps of Siberia through the truth of the Bible and the witness of Believers. As Dostoevsky said, this is the beginning of another story, which a new life with Christ is. And so, Dostoevsky touched the lives of countless readers and fellow authors, and in doing so, he changed literature forever.

"Crime and Punishment." BookRags.com. BookRags, Inc. 9 Feb. 2005 .

Toutonghi, Pauls. "Biography of Dostoevsky." 15 Feb. 1995. 2 Feb. 2005 .

"Fyodor Dostoyevsky." Anoca.org Encyclodpedia. 2 Feb. 2005 .

"Fyodor Dostoyevsky." Free Online Library. Farlex, Inc. 3 Feb. 2005 .

Owens, David . "Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky." Sennaya Ploschad. 2 Feb. 2005 .

Gormley, Sister Joan. "The Christian Response to Atheism: Dostoevsky." Chatholic Educator's Resource Center. 9 Feb. 2005 .