Product Description

Key dimensions of Dostoevskii’s writing and life are explored in this collection of specially commissioned essays. While remaining accessible to an undergraduate and non-specialist readership, the essays as a whole seek to renegotiate the terms in which Dostoevskii and his works are to be approached. This is achieved by replacing the conventional ‘life and works’ format by one that seeks instead to foreground key aspects of the cultural context in which those works were produced. Contributors trace the often complex relationship between those aspects and the processes accompanying the creation of Dostoevskii’s art. They examine topics such as Dostoevskii’s relation to folk literature, money, religion, the family and science. The essays are well supported by supplementary material including a chronology of the period and detailed guides to further reading. Altogether the volume provides an invaluable resource for scholars and students.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #554808 in Books
• Published on: 2002-07-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
‘This collection fully equals the earlier publications in this widely respected series.’ Contemporary Review

‘Indispensable for all those teaching or studying Dostoevskii.’ Rusistika

‘Professor Leatherbarrow deserves congratulation as well as the thanks of students and scholars for producing such a useful and stimulating volume. It will doubtless join his other works on many a reading list.’ Arnold McMillin, Slavonic & East European Review

About the Author
William J. Leatherbarrow is Professor of Russian at the University of Sheffield. He is the author of many books and articles on Dostoevskii.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Introduction into Dostoyevsky Academia
Being a fan of Dostoyevsky's writings, I wanted an accessible book that would provide me with some further insight into his works. This book certainly met that criteria.

The various essays are all written by some of the most well-known western Dostoyevsky academics but they are written in such a way as to be accessible to people who have no or little experience with academic writing.

The essays touch on most of the well known themes in Dostoyevsky's writings as well as some that are rarely mentioned - the essay on Dostoyevsky and Russian folklore, for example, is something that is generally not focussed on by critics or translators.

As such, I can heartily recommend this book to those who admire Dostoyevsky and want to see some of undercurrents that lie behind his masterpieces.