波乱に満ちたフョードル・ドストエフスキー（1821-1881年）の生涯と、その業績を概説します。政治犯として投獄され、処刑を間一髪で免れたこと、シベリアへの亡命、ギャンブル中毒、ロマンチックな結婚、そして文学的成功。『地下室の記録』『罪と罰』『白痴』『悪霊』『カラマーゾフの兄弟』『作家の日記』など主な作品に触れるほか、各章で重要なテーマを分析し、人間の本質や社会に対する作家の深い洞察を紹介します。「自由」「道徳」「意味」を扱うその作品が、いかに普遍的な問いを投げかけていて、複雑な世界でその意義を保ち続けているかを明らかにします。(cf: Notes from the Underground / Crime and Punishment / The Idiot / Devils / The Karamazov Brothers (Oxford World's Classics))
 

• Surveys Dostoevsky's major themes, anchoring them in readings of his major novels and journalism
• Offers readers a new understanding of the context underlying Dostoevsky's writing and the historical importance of his work
• Gives a concise, accessible introduction to a world classic and internationally eminent author
• Provides a major scholar's original interpretations of the author's entire body of work, including a probing treatment of the "big questions" of ethics and psychology

   
Fyodor Dostoevsky became the writer best known for his treatment of the big questions of ethics, religion, and philosophy.
  
In this Very Short Introduction, Deborah Martinsen explores Dostoevsky's tumultuous life story: his political imprisonment and narrow escape from execution, his Siberian exile, his gambling addiction, his romantic marriage, and his literary success. Martinsen also delves into his major works - Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, The Brothers Karamazov, The Diary of a Writer, and more. Each chapter analyzes a key theme or aspect of Dostoevsky's writing that showcases his profound insights into human nature and society: doubling, freedom, shame, social justice, scandal, aesthetics, ethics, faith, and the eternal questions. Martinsen also demonstrates how Dostoevsky's novels remain relevant today as they address pressing questions about freedom, morality, and meaning in a complex world.