Fedor Dostoevsky

Name at birth: Fedor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky

Fedor Dostoevksy (also Fydor Dostoevski or Feodor Dostoyevsky) is the 19th century Russian author who wrote the classic novels Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880). Dostoevsky turned to writing as a profession after a brief military career, publishing his first novel, Poor Folk in 1846. In 1849 he was arrested for his participation in a literary/political group and sentenced to prison. Although he narrowly escaped execution, he spent nearly ten years isolated in Siberia (four of them in prison) before returning to St. Petersburg. His novels explored the psychology and moral obligations of modern man, and he is famous for creating the "underground hero," a protagonist alienated from society and in search of redemption. One of Russia's greatest authors and a strong influence on 20th century literature, his other works include House of the Dead (1862), Notes From The Underground (1864) and The Idiot (1868).