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| − | '''Fyodor Dostoevsky''' (Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский) (November 11 1821 – February 9 1881) is a Russian author famous for his lengthy novels about society, social mores, and morality in [[Tzar]]ist Russia. In his novels he explores human psychology in the troubled political, social and spiritual-Christian context of his contemporary Russian society. | + | '''Fyodor Dostoevsky''' (Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский) (November 11 1821 – February 9 1881) is a Russian author famous for his lengthy novels about society, social mores, and morality in [[Tzar]]ist Russia. In his novels he explores human psychology in the troubled political, social and spiritual-Christian context of his contemporary Russian society. He is generally considered one of the greatest novelists in history. <ref>http://thisrecording.com/today/2009/8/3/in-which-these-are-the-100-greatest-writers-of-all-time.html</ref> |
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| − | His major works include ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' and ''[[Crime and Punishment]]''. Though his works are not truly existentialist, they are dark and daunting as the main characters frequently search for an illusive meaning of life. | + | His major works include ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' and ''[[Crime and Punishment]]''. Though his works are not truly existentialist, they are dark and daunting as the main characters frequently search for an illusive meaning of life. The fact that a writer of such brilliance was able to be simultaneously pre-existentialist and Christian may suggest that the atheistic claims of today's existentialists are disingenuous. Noted scholar Walter Kaufmann called Part One of Dostoevsky's short novel ''Notes From Underground'' "the best overture for existentialism ever written." <ref>http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html</ref> |
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| | Like many intellectuals of his day who challenged the power and rights of the Tzar, Dostoevsky was exiled to [[Siberia]]. This 10 year experience would frame his views of the world, and change his writings from those of a young naive intellectual to the questing, challenging author he became. | | Like many intellectuals of his day who challenged the power and rights of the Tzar, Dostoevsky was exiled to [[Siberia]]. This 10 year experience would frame his views of the world, and change his writings from those of a young naive intellectual to the questing, challenging author he became. |
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| | [[Image:Fyodor Dostoevsky.jpg|right|thumb]] | | [[Image:Fyodor Dostoevsky.jpg|right|thumb]] |
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| − | His final work before his death, ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' is considered one of the greatest novels ever written by such Philosophers as [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] and [[Sigmund Freud]]. In it, the character Ivan Karamazov states, "If there is [[Atheism|no immortality]], there is no virtue". | + | His final work before his death, ''[[The Brothers Karamazov]]'' is considered one of the greatest novels ever written by such Philosophers as [[Friedrich Nietzsche]] and [[Sigmund Freud]]. In it, the character Ivan Karamazov states, "If there is [[Atheism|no immortality]], there is no virtue." Due mostly to this novel and ''[[Crime and Punishment]]'', Dostoevsky is often considered one of the greatest defenders of theism in all of literature. |
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| | == Works == | | == Works == |
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| | * The Brothers Karamazov 1880 | | * The Brothers Karamazov 1880 |
| | * A Writer's Diary (1873-1881) | | * A Writer's Diary (1873-1881) |
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| | + | == References == |
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| | + | <references/> |
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| | == See also == | | == See also == |