Dostoyevsky: A Beginner's Guide

by Rose Miller, Charlie Bell (Editor), Rob Abbott (Editor)

Explore the range and versatility of this thought-provoking and compelling writer, focusing on his concern with writing as a means of understanding the human condition. This brief but detailed introduction gives an insight into the relationship between the writer's life and his work, an exploration of recurrent themes in his writing, an analysis of Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov, and an outline of some helpful critical approaches to his style.

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ale Sandoval Tress]

https://bibliobulimica.wordpress.com/...

[Mahmoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to dostoyevsky work. It touches on all the major points and heighlights of his work, without real twist spoilers.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I finished Crime and Punishment, which seemed a great read, but difficult theoretically speaking. I wanted to start right in on The Brothers Karamozov but figured that if C&P was difficult and brothers is said to be even more so, then I better read some primer....

This however, was not the beginner guide I should have got...It is about 80 pages of double spaced type....read it in one sitting...not even 2 hours worth of material here....On top of its lack of depth(it is a beginner guide after all), it has an almost extreme lack of breadth.

Also, if you are a beginner in Dostoyevsky's works this book really drops some spoilers on you, I cant imagine how boring Crime and punishment would have been if I had read this first...

The last 8 or so pages are devoted to different types of literary analysis which works with Dostoyevsky....in particular focusing on Freudian analysis....

Notes:
p27 The concept of Holy Fool is briefly examined....relating to the main character in "The Idiot"....This archatype was later rehashed by the great American writer Jack Kerouac when he wrote "on the road"....Neal Cassidy (Dean Moriarity in the book)

P42-43 Notes on ideas of Alienation presented in Crime and Punishment

p80 Comparisons of Dostoevesky and Camus and their use of the concept of the Absurd.

[Stuart Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful introductory text which provides a short biography of the author, recommended works for new readers, exploration of themes in Dostoyevsky's work and a summary of contemporary and modern critical responses.

The style is accessible but newcomers should exercise caution as Miller reveals significant plot points from the major works.

My favourite sentence: [Maikov] .. was in the process of writing a monograph on [Dostoyesky] which was only interrupted by his sudden death.' Yeah, I guess that would have interrupted many things..