Which Dostoyevsky's novel should be read as the foundation for his other ones?

Question

Since I'm not familiar with the novels by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, I'd appreciate some readers who enjoy reading his novels, especially, 'Crime and Punishment', 'The Idiot', 'The Possessed', and 'The Brothers Karamazov'. I also would like to hear some literary comparisons between his works and Tolstoy's. Thanks.

Answer 1

"Notes from Underground" is the preface to his works. Dostoyevsky said at Nikolai Gogol's funeral, "we've all come from the Gogol's Overcoat." Gogol's Overcoat is a must read for Dostoyevskian scholars. And all other novels Fyodor penned came from (in literary senses) from Notes. Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment have obvious echoes of the Notes. Even Memoirs from the House of the Dead which he wrote earlier have give a taste of Notes. The Gambler, The Idiot, and The Demons (often mistranslated as The Possessed), all echo themes and narrative strategies of Notes. I think he never quite abandoned Belinsky's materialistic atheism when he detained in Siberia. Instead the confinement and subsequent horrible experiences simply sharpened his existentialist insights into human psychology. A novella like The Double could hardly come from another writer except Fyodor!

Influences: Ralph Ellison's Underground Man is directly indebted to Notes. Becket's Godot, Camus' tales, Nietsszche's Thus Spake Zarathustra even more recent writers literary icons in their own right like the Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges and Africa's first and foremost existentialist writer, Taban lo Liyong, are all latter day great-grandchildren of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the author of Notes from Underground.

If you are a serious literature scholar, I am sure you know or have heard the adage that you cannot cook two cocks in one pot. Two hugely gigantic writers should not be simply reduced to the debate of which is important: the egg or the chicken! Dostoyevevsky and Leo Tolstoy should ideally not be evaluated in the same breadth. Fyodor delved more into the existential psyche. Leo delved more into the the societal psychology. Tolstoy's Anna Karenin, War and Peace, Resurrection,The Death of Ivan Illych, Family Happiness, How Much Land Does a Man Need etc have their preface in Pushkin's Eugene Onegin. Pushkin is arguably the Father of Russian Literature. Whereas you can trace Fyodor in Gogol, likewise, you can trace Leo in Pushkin.

Hence, start from Notes from Undergound and you'll tremendously appreciate all Dostoyevsky's other works.

You may also check this link for his brief biography:

Answer 2

I read both Crime and Punishment and War and Peace a few years back so those are the only two I can really give input on. They both have a ton of character development, which is both good and bad. Dostoyevsky basically examines what the character is thinking and feeling ad nauseum by explicitly stating his emotions.

In War and Peace it was more like Tolstoy was setting up situations in which characters emotions could be expressed and conveyed to the reader instead of telling us how we should feel. Of course he also follows the course of events for multiple characters instead of just one.

For myself I prefer books that are more plot driven and less explicit examination of the emotions of the character.

Answer 3

In Russia Dostoevsky is considered as an author who made an excellent description of the character and psychology of a criminal in his novels. Crime and Punishment is the best example. In most Dostoevsky's books there is no good or bad person. He tries to show the actions of a man and the reasons for the action no matter how absurd they might look. Tolstoy's books are much ''lighter'' in this view. I mean Tolstoy would dedicate quite much space to the psychology of his heroes too but never the were as complicated and dark as the ones in Dostoevsky's works. Both of the writers are very interesting but it takes much time and effort to analyze and understand them and u like them only after u have understood what really they mean.

Answer 4

Even though C&P is what he's known for, Brothers is so much better. Between all of the story lines, there'll be someone that you can relate to and that just makes it so much more gripping. However, you should be somewhat familiar with Christianity (Catholism in specific) to understand parts of the story fully.

C&P is great, but don't overlook "The Idiot". Again, layers and layers of character analysis.

Dostoyevsky is the only Russian author that I've liked who writes in Russian. (I enjoy a lot of Russian authors who wrote their novels in English.) Somehow, his talent isn't lost in translation. Fantastic author!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Of his works, I've only read Crime and Punishment and Brothers Karamazov. Although I believe 'C&P' is considered his definative work, I personally preferred 'Brothers..'

Answer 7

Crime and Punishment

Answer 8

Dostoyevsky.... Good read.... Crime and Punishment!!!

Your sister,
Ginger

Answer 9

'The Brothers Karamazov' is my all-time favourite.