Aspects of Dostoevskii: Art, Ethics and Faith(Studies in Slavic Literature & Poetics)

Perhaps more than any other nineteenth-century Russian writer, Dostoevskii’s continuing popularity rests on his contemporary relevance. The prophetic streak in his creativity gives him the same lasting appeal as dystopian novelists such as Zamiatin and Orwell whom he influenced and whose ethical concerns he anticipated. Religious themes are prominent in his work, too, and, though he was a believer, his interest seems to lie in the tension between faith and unbelief, which was felt as keenly in the Russia of his time as in our own. The nature of Dostoevskii’s art also continues to be debated. The older tendency to disparage his literary method has given way to a recognition of the originality of his techniques, without which his ideological concerns would not have emerged with such thought-provoking clarity. The chapters which comprise this volume address these issues in a range of Dostoevskii’s works, from shorter classics, such as House of the Dead and Notes from Underground to great novels such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov. This work will be of use to scholars and students of Dostoevskii at all levels as well as to those with an interest in nineteenth-century literature more generally.

Review :
"[A]n intriguing collection to ponder, particularly for those who are interested in the artistic and metaphysical questions which traverse the discrete texts of Dostoevsky’s work as a whole. […] The editors, Reid and Andrew, along with the tome’s contributors, are to be congratulated on the high quality of the volume and its significant addition to Dostoevsky scholarship." - Eugenia Kapsomera Amditis (Westchester), in Slavic and East European Journal Vol.58.1 2014, pp. 144-5. "Reid also emphasizes Dostoevsky’s continuing relevance, and suggests this may be related not only to the power of his own works, but also to the fact that Dostoevsky stands behind Bakhtin’s theories, which have enjoyed so much popularity in academic circles and beyond in recent years. Dostoevsky certainly continues to attract a wide range of scholarly debate, and this lively and effective volume makes a sound contribution to the field, and will be useful for students as well as researchers." - Sarah J. Young (University College London), in SLAVONICA Vol. 19 No. 1, April 2013. pp. 69-70. "This excellent collection of fourteen articles addresses the most gripping concepts inseparable from any interpretation of Dostoevskii's work. […] The high quality of individual contributions results in an informed and organic 'polylogue,' a professional round-table, which should be the aim of any such collective scholarly endeavor." - Marina Kostalevsky (Bard College), in The Russian Review April 2013.