Short stories by Fyodor Dostoyevsky ( 1919)
It might seem that destiny itself had prepared the extraordinary circumstances of this writer's life so as to enable him to express in his works all of mankind's bound less suffering.
Such was the background of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, that genius of Russian literature which perhaps has more tragic lives to its credit than any other literature in the world. Two of its greatest poets—Pushkin and Lermontov—were killed in duds; the poet Ryleyev was hanged; the revolu¬ tionary writer Chernyshevsky languished in exile in Siberia for 20 years; Herzen, Saltykov-Shchedrin and Korolenko were sentenced to exile.
However, even against this back¬ ground, Dostoyevsky's life is conspicuous as a cluster of tragic circumstances. Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born in 1821, in the family of a physician at the Mariinsky Charity Hospital in Moscow.
There were seven children. Dostoyevsky's mother, a delicate religious and tender¬ hearted woman, died of consumption in 1837 at the age of S3. Her life was a round of suffering and anxiety owing to her husband's severity, parsimony and savage jealousy. It is characteristic of Dostoyevsky's father that his cruel treatment of his serfs during several years led to his being murdered by them in 1839 on a small estate he bought near Tula towards the end of his life. The future writer
Poor People
A poignant epistolary novel that explores the struggles of poverty in 19th‑century Russia. Through letters exchanged between a humble clerk and a young seamstress, Dostoyevsky reveals the crushing weight of social inequality and the quiet dignity of those who endure it.
White Nights
A tender, melancholic tale of fleeting love set against the dreamlike backdrop of St. Petersburg’s “white nights.” A lonely dreamer encounters a young woman and experiences a brief but transformative romance, highlighting themes of longing, isolation, and the fragility of happiness.
A Faint Heart
This story examines the tragic consequences of weakness and indecision. A timid young man, overwhelmed by social pressures and his inability to assert himself, spirals into despair, offering a sharp critique of societal expectations and personal fragility.
A Most Unfortunate Incident
A satirical sketch that exposes the absurdities of bureaucracy and social pretension. Through a comically disastrous event, Dostoyevsky highlights the pettiness and hypocrisy of officialdom, blending humor with biting social commentary.
The Meek One
A haunting psychological study of pride, cruelty, and remorse. Told from the perspective of a pawnbroker reflecting on his young wife’s tragic death, the story delves into themes of domination, emotional neglect, and the destructive power of ego.
The Dream of a Ridiculous Man
A philosophical allegory in which a despairing man, contemplating suicide, dreams of a utopian world free of sin and suffering. Upon awakening, he resolves to live and spread love, embodying Dostoyevsky’s vision of redemption through compassion and moral awakening.
Published in Soviet union.
30 MB