Introduction and Reading Plan

As I acquaint myself with more of Dostoevsky's background, I am noticing a distinction that's commonly drawn between his work prior to his exile and after. Given that he was sentenced to forced labor and military service for a total of 10 years it's not difficult to imagine his perspective changing as a writer.

From a literary standpoint, Dostoevsky's earlier stories indicate a more ambitious social conscience and commentary but his characters are a bit vague and themes underdeveloped. His later work however, seems to turn some of these larger questions inward, focusing on the individual's soul and mind while leaving the reader to extrapolate to the social and political level. The philosophical depth, richness of characters, and inward turmoil that's captured in his later work is aptly done through much longer and more complex novels. Conversely, prior to his exile Dostoevsky preferred the short story or vignette that dealt rather obliquely with one larger topic.

Politically, Dostoevsky forsook much of his interest in European social theory and Western thought after his exile and incarceration, preferring to develop subjects and stories that focused on Russian identity opposite the influence of the West (Slavophile). Although his religious conversion doesn't resemble the abruptness of Tolstoy, who simply forsook the large novel and focused mainly on religious writings, Dostoevsky did become markedly more religious (Russian Orthodox) after his exile.

All this to say that although I am not beholden to reading Dostoevsky in perfect chronological order I will make an effort to deal with his pre-exile work first in order to explore how his exile and conscription affected his later writing. Once I've engaged his pre-exile work I'll reflect a bit on those novels and short stories as a whole and then delve into the remainder of his work. A few simple ground rules:

I'll make an attempt to deal with main themes and questions I have of the text during the course of reading BUT I ALSO hope to make connections, reflect on, and commentate on the relevancy of Dostoevsky's work today. So, I intend to ask questions such as: Why read Dostoevsky today? How does his work relate to the perennial questions of politics and philosophy? What insight does he have for the 21st century? In this manner, I want to deal with Dostoevsky as (arguably) the first "Modern" writer--that is, a writer who grapples with themes at the heart of Modernity (the self, free will and moral responsibility, spiritual convictions and ethics, personal beliefs and political ideology, science and rationalism, etc.)

Here's the tentative schedule for the next few weeks: The Landlady, Poor Folk, The Double, Mr. Prokharchin, and Polzunkov. After these I'll have to hunt down a collection of his last remaining pre-exile short stories to read...

The Plan

Dear Hapless Reader:

I've claimed Dostoevsky as "my favorite author" for a few years now. In fact, his stoic portrait hangs above my desk, purchased in Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery a few years ago. Recently, through circumstances not entirely of my doing, I've been completely embarrassed that I've only read maybe half of his short stories and novels. This is simply unacceptable. Either I am a phony, thinking I can get by with only a layman's understanding of his life and work OR he's not the great author he's cracked up to be...and I am none the wiser.

All that said, I've decided to blog my way through all his short stories and novels. I hope blogging will inspire me to read Dostoevsky's work with a greater depth and force me to gain a communicable appreciation for his work. I know Russian literature well enough to know that it cannot be read briefly or lightly, being replete with the big, philosophical questions that have defined human existence for millennia. So, first and foremost, I blog to engage, grapple, and learn from a lifetime of literary achievement. Thanks for following!