Dostoevsky

First published in 1962, the present volume is a collection of critical essays on selected works by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), the famous 19th century Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher.

Critical evaluation of Fyodor Dostoevsky has been marked by sharp and violently bitter extremes. René Wellek has assembled a wide spectrum of these varied critical attitudes toward the works of the great Russian “tragedian of ideas.” Dostoevsky’s work is seen from psychoanalytical, existential, theological, and Marxist points of view. Professor Wellek’s introduction sketches the history of Dostoevsky criticism and influence in all main countries—a task never before attempted.

The essays in this collection are:

PHILIP RAHV—Dostoevsky in Crime and Punishment

MURRAY KRIEGER—Dostoevsky’s “Idiot”: The Curse of Saintliness

IRVING HOWE—Dostoevsky: The Politics of Salvation

ELISEO VIVAS—The Two Dimensions of Reality in The Brothers Karamazov

D. H. LAWRENCE—Preface to Dostoevsky’s “The Grand Inquisitor”

SIGMUND FREUD—Dostoevsky and Parricide

GEORG LUKÁCS—Dostoevsky

DMITRI CHIZHEVSKY—The Theme of the Double in Dostoevsky

V. V. ZENKOVSKY—Dostoevsky’s Religious and Philosophical Views

DEREK TRAVERSI—Dostoevsky