Everyone who considers themselves educated in Russia knows about this man and are acquainted with his works. This author is one of the most famous Russian writers among foreigners. But these points are not the reason why I decided to write about him. I am writing about him because he is my favorite Russian writer. If you want to know more about Russian culture and Russian literature-read this article. 

   When I was a student at the Faculty of Philology and Journalism, I was lucky to meet a great teacher. She was a heavenly-born teacher. She sparked within me an interest for this writer through her obsession which passed on to me. In times of self-reflection I read his books, when I want to plunge into the world of depth and understanding of wild human nature, and when I try to understand cobwebs of the human’s mind! The name of this genius is Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

  I am not going to tell you his biography. I will just bring some interesting facts from his life before you and try to explain why his works should be read by people willing to understand the secrets of an incomprehensible female soul.

  Writing was a challenge for Fyodor Mikhailovich. He was exiled to Siberia for 4 years but his tough life in the unbearable conditions that he lived in, was not so difficult and exhausting to him as writing novels. In addition, Dostoevsky could not work without strong tea. While Dostoevsky was writing his novels by night, there were always tea on his desk and a hot samovar kept in the dining room.

  Few people know that Dostoevsky was a gambler and was known to put everything on the line. The novel «The Gambler» is based on a personal experience of the writer. Dostoevsky was heavily in debt due to his playing roulette in Europe, and that is why he had to write something as quick as possible to pay off the creditors. As a result,the novel was completed in 21 days.

  The women of Dostoyevsky became prototypes for the characters in his works. Female images in Dostoevsky’s novels are something incredible. I understand why a German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche considered Dostoevsky the only psychologist from whom he could learn something. It is difficult to believe these female images came out of the pen of a man. The female characters are always deep and mysterious. Infernality is the most attractive trait which is perfectly described by Fyodor Mikhailovich.

  What is an «infernal woman»? She has no healing energy inside, but she has demonic power- unpredictable, attractive and at the same time destructive power. You always ask yourself looking at her behavior: “What comes next?” But it is not thoughtlessness, egocentrism or hysteria. Such a woman is daffy and this is her lifestyle that creates unpredictable mosaic called «female mind». Infernal women live with their own dynamics. Their demonic souls blow male mind, and a man plunges into the crazy world of female nature.

   Dostoevsky created the biggest gallery of infernal women: Sonia Marmeladova of «Crime and Punishment», Nastasiya  Philippovna of «The Idiot», Grushen’ka of «The Brothers Karamazov» and so on. Such a woman attracts a man. You never know what will happen, you are never bored with her. Her insanity is considered her creativity. She is unbelievably sensitive but she is simultaneously heartless. She is often self-giving but she is sometimes very cruel. Such a woman is one of the brightest manifestations of human imperfection.

What is this imperfection about? She is totally unpredictable. You never know her thoughts, her intentions or her wishes. She is an enigmatic woman. She is the devil because she is cruel and desperate. How is it possible to call a woman ideal if she is rude, cruel, brutal, unpredictable, and still having two advantages – her beauty and pride. You never find a more proud and wayward woman.

  Dostoevsky had a bright temperament and hypersexuality. This physiological trait was so developed that, despite the efforts to hide it, it broke out unwittingly through his words, attitudes, actions. Peers noticed that and he was laughed at. Turgenev called him “Russian Marquis de Sade.” There could be only one remedy for the abyss of depravity: the beloved woman.

When she appeared in his life, Dostoevsky changed. It was she, Anna, his saving grace. She was his assistant and at the same moment his sex toy, with whom it was possible to do everything without feelings of guilt and remorse. She was 20 while he was 45. Anna was young and inexperienced. She didn’t  consider their intimate relationship with Dostoevskiy like something disgusting or awful. Moreover, she accepted everything that was offered by her husband. She took violence and pain for granted. Even if she did not approve it or she did not like it, she never said «no» to him. One day she wrote: “I am ready to spend the rest of my life standing in front of him on my knees”. She put his pleasure first. He was her God … 

  When he died, she was only 35 years old, but she was alone for the rest of her life. She devoted herself to promotion of his name. She published his complete works, collected his letters and notes, made friends to write his biography, founded Dostoyevsky school, and wrote memories. In 1918, the last year of her life,  Anna was visited by the composer Sergei Prokofiev. He asked her to make an inscription in his album and said: “But I would like to warn you, Anna. The album is dedicated to the sun. You can only write about the sun”. Then Anna took the album and wrote: “The sun of my life is Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Anna Dostoevskaya … “

  The most fruitful years for Dostoyevsky were the last 10 years of his life. During this time he wrote his most famous novels that brought him a well-deserved popularity. However, as it often happens, the peak of his fame was only after his death. 

  Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky is considered as one of the most brilliant writers of his time, whose works are considered as classic of world literature. His «Brothers Karamazov» takes place in the list of the 100 greatest ever written novels.

  Great, mysterious and brilliant. One can reach Dostoevskiy early or late. However one may never reach him.

P.S Do you want to know more about Russian culture? Read my blog.