This textbook series is ambitious in scope. It provides concise and lucid introductions to major works of world literature from classical antiquity to the twentieth century. It is not confined to any single literary tradition or genre, and will cumulatively form a substantial library of textbooks on some of the most important and widely read literary masterpieces. Each book is devoted to a full acount of its historical, cultural, and intellectual background, a discussion of its influence, and a guide to further reading.

Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov is unquestionably one of the greatest works of world literature. With its dramatic portrayal of a Russian family in crisis and its intense investigation into the essential questions of human existence, the novel has had a major impact on writers and thinkers across a broad range of disciplines, from psychology to religious and political philosophy. This proposed reader's guide has two major goals: to help the reader understand the place of Dostoevsky's novel in Russian and world literature, and to illuminate the writer's compelling and complex artistic vision. The plot of the novel centers on the murder of the patriarch of the Karamazov family and the subsequent attempt to discover which of the brothers bears responsibility for the murder, but Dostoevsky's ultimate interests are far more thought-provoking. Haunted by the question of God's existence, Dostoevsky uses the character of Ivan Karamazov to ask what kind of God would create a world in which innocent children have to suffer, and he hoped that his entire novel would provide the answer. The design of Dostoevsky's work, in which one character poses questions that other characters must try to answer, provides a stimulating basis for reader engagement. Having taught university courses on Dostoevsky's work for over twenty years, Julian W. Connolly draws upon modern and traditional approaches to the novel to produce a reader's guide that stimulate the reader's interest and provides a springboard for further reflection and study.

Book 1: Explore the complex dynamics of family, morality, and faith in “The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.” Dostoyevsky's novel delves into the lives of the Karamazov brothers, each embodying different facets of the human psyche, as they grapple with love, religion, and the consequences of their actions. Book 2: Join Huck Finn on a journey of self-discovery along the Mississippi River in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.” Twain's classic novel explores themes of racism, freedom, and friendship as Huck and Jim navigate the challenges of a society shaped by the antebellum South. Book 3: Immerse yourself in the stream of consciousness narrative of “Ulysses by James Joyce.” Joyce's groundbreaking work captures a single day in the lives of its characters, exploring the intricacies of the human mind and the city of Dublin, offering a rich and challenging reading experience.

Belknap (Slavic languages, Columbia U.) traces Dostoevsky's last, great novel to its sources, exploring how the author consciously transformed his experience and his readings to construct the work. It is both a lucid analysis of a complex and difficult text and an inquiry into the process of literary creation. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. P

Examines the friendship and interrelated thought of the novelist Fedor Dostoevsky and the philosopher Vladimir Soloviev. The text provides biographical detail and a comparative analysis of their principal works from philosophical, literary, historical and religious perspectives.

This is a new interpretation of Dostoevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov that scrutinizes it as a performative event (the “polyphony” of the novel) revealing its religious, philosophical, and social meanings through the interplay of mentalités or worldviews that constitute an aesthetic whole. This way of discerning the novel's social vision of sobornost' (a unity between harmony and freedom), its vision of hope, and its more subtle sacramental presuppositions, raises Tilley's interpretation beyond the standard “theology and literature” treatments of the novel and interpretations that treat the novel as providing solutions to philosophical problems. Tilley develops Bakhtin's thoughtful analysis of the polyphony of the novel using communication theory and readers/hearer response criticism, and by using Bakhtin's operatic image of polyphony to show the error of taking "faith vs. reason", argues that at the end of the novel, the characters learned to carry on, in a quiet shared commitment to memory and hope.

An intriguing study of the life and works of one of the world's most celebrated writers

As a writer and prophet Dostoevsky was no academic theologian, yet his writings are deeply theological: his life, beliefs, even his epilepsy, all had a role in generating his theology and eschatology. Dostoevsky's novels are riven with paradoxes, are deeply dialectical, and represent a criticism of religion, offered in the service of the gospel. In this task he presented a profound understanding and portrait of humanity. Dostoevsky's novels chart the movement of the human into death: either the movement through paradox and Christlikeness into Christ's cross (a soteriology often characterized by the apophatic negation and self-denial; what we may term "the Mark of Abel") leading to salvation and resurrection; or, conversely, the movement of those who refuse Christ's invitation to be redeemed, and continue to fall into a self-willed death and a self-generated hell (the Mark of "Cain"). This eschatology becomes a theological axiom which he unceasingly warned people of in his mature works. Startlingly original, stripped of all religious pretence (some prostitutes and criminals might just have a better understanding of salvation than some of the pietistic, wealthy, and cultured classes), Dostoevsky as a prophet forewarned of the politicized humanistic delusions of the twentieth century: a prophet crying out through the wilderness.

Brothers Mikhail and Fyodor Dostoyevsky dreamt about writing when they were young, but their father believed that writer’s work wouldn’t be able to provide material well-being for his sons, so he brought them to Petersburg in order to prepare them for entering the Main Engineer School. In Writer’s Diary Dostoevsky looks back to the journey to Petersburg “I was constantly composing the novel about Venice life”. Fyodor Dostoyevsky was admitted to be the classic of Russian literature and one of the best novelists of the world significance only after his death. His works influenced a lot the world literature, and the most famous novels of the writer were included to the best 100 books of the Norwegian book club. Contents: - The Idiot - Crime and Punishment - The Brothers Karamazov - The Insulted and the Injured - Notes from the Underground - The Grand Inquisitor - The Possessed - The Gambler - POOR FOLK - Uncle's Dream - THE PERMANENT HUSBAND - AN HONEST THIEF

The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky is a literary masterpiece that encapsulates the complex human psyche, moral dilemmas, and societal issues of 19th-century Russia. Dostoyevsky's writing style is characterized by deep introspection, psychological depth, and philosophical discourse, making his works a profound exploration of the human condition. From the existential crisis in 'Notes from Underground' to the moral ambiguity in 'Crime and Punishment', this collection offers a deep dive into the darkest corners of the human soul. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a Russian novelist and philosopher, drew inspiration from his own tumultuous life experiences - from his imprisonment in Siberia to his struggles with epilepsy. His deep understanding of human nature and his existential inquiries led him to create some of the most enduring works of literature in history. I highly recommend The Complete Works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky to any reader interested in exploring the depths of human consciousness and morality. Dostoyevsky's profound insights and unparalleled storytelling will leave a lasting impact on anyone who dares to venture into his world.