Dostoyevsky: Dreamer and Prophet

by Judith Gunn

This was a biography of Dostoyevsky with an emphasis on his religious journey. The later edition to be published July 2016 will focus much more on his relevance to modern day media and his personal contradictions.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1990

About the author

I was born in London, travelled widely and have been a writer since I could tell a story. I went to the University of Bristol, I have worked as a temp, a typist as a lifeguard and as a teacher. I am currently a full time writer.

https://judithgunn.wordpress.com/about/

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting introduction to the Russian author. It reads like a story, and didn't seem to be an especially academic or a thoroughly in depth biography; for something more in depth people might look elsewhere. That being said I enjoyed it partially for that reason; it was very readable, not too long, and by no means dry. I read it for the purposes of revision, and yet I didn't feel at all like I had to force myself to read it, and found myself wanting to come back to it. I now know much more about Dostoyevsky than I did before starting this book, and feel like this book has given me a richer understanding of his life and his times.

[Ben Swingle]

Gunn develops Dostoyevsky's life from childhood up through his involvement in revolutionary literary circles, exile to Siberia, marriage, development as a Russian Nationalist to his death in January 1881. She effectively traces events in this author's life to their reflection in his literary masterpieces.