Fedor Dostoevsky

One of Russians most important novelists, short story authors, essayist and philosopher is Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky born in Moscow in 1821. Fedor was introduced t literature at any early age by his mother who died in 1937. He left regular school and joined the Nikolayev Military Engineering Institute. He worked as an engineer after graduation and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. He translated books to earn extra money and in the mid-1840s he wrote Poor Folk.
Fedor was arrested in 1849 for his involvement in the Petrashevsky Circle a literary discussion group as well as a society of liberal utopians. He was condemned to death but his sentence was commuted just before the firing squad fired. He served four years hard labor in Siberia and on release served as a soldier. He was discharged due to epilepsy.
He worked as a journalist and published A Writer's Diary which is a collection of his writings. He travelled around Western Europe and developed an addiction to gambling which lead to financial ruin. He wrote The House of the Dead based on his experiences in prison.
In 1866 the first two parts of Crime and Punishment were published in the magazine The Russian Messenger. The writing attracted 500 new subscriber to the magazine. Fedor returned to Saint Petersburg in September and completed The Gambler which focused on gambling addition. His stenographer, Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina helped him finish this novel in 26 days and her payment was marriage in 1867 to Fedor. In 1867 Fedor began work on The Idiot and he sent the beginning chapters to The Russian Messenger in 1868.
Fedor began a decline in health and died on February 9, 1881. His major works include Notes from the Underground, The Brothers Karamazov, Crime and Punishment, Demons, The Idiot, The House of the Dead and the Gambler.
He left behind his wife Anna and four children.