Author's Life

Fyoder Dostoevsky is one of the most important writers in history. His take on Russian literature and diving into the physiological depth of humans (oftentimes based on real life events) completely revolutionized and flipped the literacy world on its head. His works on modernism, existentialism, physiology, theology, and literary criticism forever changed the work of schools and literacy history.

Early Life

Born in Moscow in 1821 to a semi-wealthy, middle class family. Dostoevsky was often drawn to fairy-tale and urban legend books read to him by his nanny, Alena Frolovna. His mother (while battling a terminal illness) taught Dostoevsky at 4 years old to read and write through the use of the Bible and his father often taught him literary books. Dostoevsky credits his curiosity and imagination to the nighttime readings by his parents. When he was still a teen, he witnessed a 9 year old girl get raped by a much older man and had to attend to her disturbed body after it had happened. This incident was featured often in his work as it traumatized him greatly. At 15, shortly after his mothers death, his brother (Mikhail) and him were both sent to the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute in St. Petersburg. He grew a disdain for his education and his government at this school and became an outsider.

Start of Career

His first book was titled “Poor Folk” and was a social novel (extremely rare in 1800s Russia) and was a commercial success. He quit his job at the military in order to further pursue his writing career. It was around this time that Doestoevsky became infatuated with socialism through the works of French writers. He continued his writing career with a series of short stories with the most famous being White Nights. These short stories were heavily criticized and affected both his financial and mental state terribly. In this weakened state he joined a radical group against the government known as Petrashevsky Circle. In the Petrashevsky Circle they made attempts to socially reform Russia. Dostoevsky often contributed to speeches about freedom from censorship and putting an end to serfdom. The circle then became a hub for revolutionaries and this subsequently led to the group being arrested and charged with death by firing squad.

Siberian Camp and Execution

On Tsar Nicholas 1’s orders the Petrashevsky Circle members were to be put to death by firing squad. In the 8 months while awaiting death, Dostoevsky suffered severely with his mental health. On firing squad day they were organized into groups and placed onto the wall, but last minute the Tsar stopped via note their execution effectively saving his life, while making the person in the row in front of him mentally go insane. This event had an impact on his book, “The Idiot” where the main character recounts the experience from the point of view of the victim. After his escape from death, Dostoevsky was sent to Siberia to spend 4 years in exile at a Siberian labor camp. At this Siberian labor camp he would counsoul the prisoners and one even claimed he saved his life by making him avoid suicide. The Siberian labor camp also has ties with his books with one being the setting of the final part of his most famous work “Crime & Punishment.”

Release of Prison

Dostoevsky would teach and tutor schoolchildren for wealthy families. Through his tutoring he would meet his first wife Maria Dmitrievna Isaeva with her then husband. Fortunately her husband would tragically die in war giving Dostoevsky a way in. They would soon get married but it did not go very well. Maria found his poverty and continuous seizures overwhelming and had a hard time connecting with him. He described the relationship, “the more unhappy we were, the more attached we became.” He would then travel all over Europe and take notes. He grew a great dislike for capitalism and protestant catholicism. He would grow followers over time with his writings in a magazine. This magazine was where he would release the first 2 parts of his hit Crime and Punishment. Sadly, in the same year, his wife and brother would die and send Dostoevsky in an even worse mental state.

Success Story

Thankfully, close friends pushed Dostoevsky to continue his work and eventually he increased support through his magazine. After finishing a short story “The Gambler” he became so successful, in fact, he needed a secretary (who he would then marry). He would later travel the world with her in order to gain motivation for his work. After that trip he would begin working on “The Idiot” but tragedy would strike again in the death of his infant baby. It would take 2 years before his book would be finished. He would then open his own publishing company which became a huge success due to his new book, “Demons.” He would be financially stable enough but developed a gambling problem and often struggled.

His Death

Fyoder Dostoevsky was at the height of his fame but his health receded greatly. He would continue to have seizures almost every other month. His popularity led many to praise him like a pastor or a prophet but at the same time create radical criticism which negatively affected his health. On February 6, 1881, his neighbor was invaded on the suspicion of being a part of a terrorist organization (same organization who later killed Tsar Nicholous the 2nd). The following day he would die of a pulmonary hemorrhage. His last words to his wife were "Remember, Anya, I have always loved you passionately and have never been unfaithful to you ever, even in my thoughts!"

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