About This Collection

This collection presents a remarkable window into the life and mind of Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of literature’s greatest psychological and philosophical novelists. Spanning over three decades (1849-1880), these letters and reminiscences trace his journey from a young writer sentenced to death, through years of exile and struggle, to his final triumph at the Pushkin celebration in Moscow.

Source

The letters in this collection are drawn from “Dostoevsky: Letters and Reminiscences”, translated by S. S. Koteliansky and J. Middleton Murry and published by Chatto & Windus, London, in 1923. This volume brings together some of the most significant correspondence from Dostoevsky’s turbulent life.

Digital Archive: Internet Archive - Dostoevsky Letters and Reminiscences

What’s Included

46 posts spanning:

Death Sentence Letter (1849) - A profound letter written the day Dostoevsky was sentenced to death, before his dramatic last-minute reprieve at the execution grounds
Letters to Apollon Maikov (1867-1870) - 8 letters from Geneva and Dresden during his European exile, discussing his work on The Idiot, financial struggles, and observations on Western civilization
Anna Grigorevna’s Reminiscences (1871-1872) - 3 intimate memoirs by Dostoevsky’s wife about their return to Russia after four years abroad, their financial struggles with creditors, and settling back in Petersburg
Pushkin Celebration Letters (1880) - 24 letters to his wife Anna from Moscow during the famous Pushkin monument unveiling, where Dostoevsky delivered his legendary speech that brought the audience to tears
Letters to Konstantin Pobiedonoszev (1879-1880) - 6 letters to the influential statesman discussing The Brothers Karamazov, Russian spirituality, and the completion of his final masterpiece

Historical Context

These letters capture Dostoevsky during the most significant periods of his life:

1849: At age 28, sentenced to death for participation in the Petrashevsky Circle, a liberal intellectual group. At the execution grounds, with moments to live, he received a last-minute commutation to hard labor in Siberia.
1867-1870: Living in European exile to escape creditors, working on The Idiot and The Devils, suffering from epilepsy, poverty, and the death of his infant daughter.
1871-1872: Returning to Russia after four years abroad, struggling to rebuild his life and reputation while being hounded by creditors.
1879-1880: Writing The Brothers Karamazov, his final and greatest work, while corresponding with influential figures about Russian spirituality and national identity.
1880: The Pushkin celebration in Moscow, where his famous speech on Pushkin and Russia’s destiny created a sensation and marked his ultimate recognition as a national prophet.

The Correspondents

Apollon Nikolayevich Maikov (1821-1897) - A distinguished Russian poet and close friend of Dostoevsky. Their correspondence reveals Dostoevsky’s creative process and philosophical struggles.

Anna Grigorevna Dostoevsky (1846-1918) - Dostoevsky’s second wife, who began as his stenographer and became his lifelong companion, business manager, and the author of valuable reminiscences about his final years.

Konstantin Pobiedonoszev (1827-1907) - Influential statesman, jurist, and advisor to Tsar Alexander III. Their correspondence reveals Dostoevsky’s religious and political philosophy.

The Translators

S. S. Koteliansky (1880-1955) and J. Middleton Murry (1889-1957) were prominent literary translators who brought Russian literature to English readers in the early 20th century. Their translation captures Dostoevsky’s passionate, psychological intensity while making his complex Russian prose accessible to English readers.

Themes

Throughout these letters and reminiscences, several powerful themes emerge:

Suffering and Redemption - Dostoevsky’s personal trials mirror the spiritual journeys of his fictional characters
Creative Struggle - The agonizing process of writing masterpieces while battling poverty, illness, and self-doubt
Russia and the West - Observations on Western European civilization versus Russian spirituality
Family and Love - Tender letters to his wife revealing a softer side of the tormented genius
Faith and Philosophy - Wrestling with profound questions about God, suffering, and human nature
National Destiny - Dostoevsky’s vision of Russia’s unique spiritual mission

Why These Letters Matter

These are not merely historical documents—they are living testaments to the creative process of a literary giant. We see Dostoevsky grappling with the same existential questions that animate his novels: the problem of suffering, the existence of God, the nature of good and evil, and the fate of Russia.

The death sentence letter alone is one of the most profound meditations on mortality ever written. The letters from Europe reveal the genesis of The Idiot and The Devils. The Pushkin celebration letters capture a moment of national catharsis. And throughout, we see the devoted partnership between Dostoevsky and Anna, without whom his late masterpieces might never have been completed.

A Note on the Text

The letters are presented in chronological order, allowing readers to follow Dostoevsky’s life journey. Editorial introductions provide context for each major section. Some letters contain references to people, events, and Russian cultural matters that would have been familiar to Dostoevsky’s correspondents but may benefit from patient reading and occasional reference to Dostoevsky biographies.

The numbers in this collection (0-46) represent the sequence for digital presentation, not the original numbering in the 1923 volume.

Recommended Reading Order:

For first-time readers, we suggest starting with:

Post #1 - The death sentence letter (1849)
Posts #10-34 - The Pushkin celebration letters (1880)
Posts #3-10 - Letters to Maikov (1867-1870)
Posts #41-46 - Letters to Pobiedonoszev (1879-1880)
Posts #12-14 - Anna’s reminiscences (1871-1872)

This order moves from Dostoevsky’s most dramatic moments to his creative and philosophical development.