Fyodor is the best author of all time; his works contain Russian culture. His books are mysterious and his work responds in empathy, honesty, and justice to the people of the society; a perfect book description for Gen-Z readers. His characters are daring and create a psychological effect on reality. His novels take you into existence and catch your focus.
The Siberian prison inspired his works where he went through intense dark experiences. He is considered the first who reached down into the deepest depths of the troubled Russian soul. Many still cherish and read his works today.
10 Best Books By Fyodor Dostoevsky You Must Read
1. Crime and Punishment
Dostoevsky had written this book in 1866. It is one of the best works of history and is popular among Russian high school students. The protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov is a poor, mysterious man who lives in Petersburg street. His justification almost convinces any reader. He is a nihilist who chooses not to follow moral responsibilities. Sonia becomes a lover, stays loyal, and saves his life. The historical references, psychological mind, and twists and turns in this book make it worth the read.
2. The Double
This work is one of his finest and shortest short fiction. It has a hallucinatory theme. The protagonist named Golyadkin senior has a twin, Golyadkin junior. Nikolai Gogol’s work influenced this piece. Gogol’s protagonist is an exact representation in the Dostoevsky novel – lonely, egoistic, humiliated, isolated in suspicion and near poverty. A protagonist who goes from descent to delusion. The doubles as Golyadkin senior makes other life complicated and persecutes him. The abuses and scorn become frightening to him. Dostoevsky shows the reader the psychological crisis and the absurdity of the situation. This makes the reader deeply involved in the mind process with the protagonist. If you need a book to distract you completely, this is the one.
3. The Idiot
This book was published in 1869. Dostoevsky’s notebooks of 1867 reveal a deep uncertainty. To-be Prince Myshkin is an evil man who committed a series of terrible crimes, including rape. He is a hypocrite and only arrives at goodness by his conversion through Christ. The novel shows the complexities of the modern Russian world.
4. The Brothers Karamazov
This is one of his special works which he wrote before his death. It was published in 1879. This book reflects the challenges of ethics, religion, and freedom which he experienced in his life. He projects two brothers in this novel. A triangle love affair that becomes wicked and sentimental for the brothers. Each character is a personification of an argument, which makes it interesting. This book is not a light read. Dostoevsky also portrays the social and spiritual striving of the golden age, an important point of Russian history.
5. Poor folk
Poor folk is Dostoevsky’s first published work. The author reveals the sadness and hopelessness of the poor people. This novel is in a letter format. It expresses the theme by the two main characters Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova, who are poor. They become friends with a rich person. He has shown the difference and struggles between the underclass and the poor class. The main idea is so profoundly shared that it is worth reading.
6. Demons
“My friend, the truth is always implausible, did you know that? To make the truth more plausible, it’s necessary to mix a bit of falsehood with it. People have always done so.”
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Demons
This masterpiece by Dostoevsky is a psychological drama and a tragedy. The ‘Demon’ here is a social and political satire. Dostoevsky wrote it after he arrived in Siberia. Demon shares the plague of materialist ideology that his native land got infected. Demons are ideas, which destroys the life of humans. Demons take many forms to promote social and religious ideas, persecution, and mass cruelty. It is an authority on innocent and poor beings – an innovative and challenging book.
7. The Insulted and humiliated
Dostoevsky wrote this novel in 1861. It is an experience of insult and injury. This story shows the self-denial love of Natasha and Vanya. The author has interestingly intertwined the two plots and leads the readers. The characters connect you with real people. It is realistic yet complicated. Dostoevsky has this beautiful talent of keeping the engagement and making the reader think in depth. It keeps the novel interesting.
8. White nights
Dostoevsky wrote this during one of the darkest times in Russia. It is also termed as ‘Russian tsarist literature.’ The short story expresses the modes and culture of Russia beautifully. It is about an unnamed guy who is lonely, miserable, and daydreaming about having a life. He meets a girl with whom he falls in love and daydreams repeatedly about his meeting. It brings life to his soul. Dostoevsky’s technique of describing human nature makes it relatable to an individual.
9. The House of the dead
“I know no better book in all modern literature.”
Leo Tolstoy
The event of young Dostoevsky going to prison because of political subversion highly influenced this novel. His horrifying, tortured thoughts are brilliantly shown in his character. It is a semi-autobiographical memoir about a young man who went to jail because he murdered his wife. This book talks about the conditions faced by prisoners during the Tsarist period. The human side in criminals makes you rediscover the values of forgiveness and compassion. Dostoevsky brings hope despite human suffering. It is a memorable and powerful novel, also recommended by Tolstoy.
10. A Gentle Creature
It is a short story by Dostoevsky written in 1876. He refers to a term called ‘kosnost.’ He explains the opening of a wife’s suicide. This book has references to the underground notes of Dostoevsky. It portrays the grief and guilt that people blame on themselves and live miserably. It talks about how detachment from reality can bring alienated individuals closer to spiritual desolation. It is a journey of grief and the path of returning to reality. The story gets complicated and unlike other Russian authors, Dostoevsky emphasized women and the difficulties of the innocent. He speaks out of the traditional form of Russian literature.
Read also – 11 Ways To Survive The Next Financial Crisis