First published in 1962, the present volume is a collection of critical essays on selected works by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), the famous 19th century Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher.
Critical evaluation of Fyodor Dostoevsky has been marked by sharp and violently bitter extremes. René Wellek has assembled a wide spectrum of these varied critical attitudes toward the works of the great Russian "tragedian of ideas." Dostoevsky's work is seen from psychoanalytical, existential, theological, and Marxist points of view. Professor Wellek's introduction sketches the history of Dostoevsky criticism and influence in all main countriesa task never before attempted.
The essays in this collection are:
PHILIP RAHVDostoevsky in Crime and Punishment
MURRAY KRIEGERDostoevsky's "Idiot": The Curse of Saintliness
IRVING HOWEDostoevsky: The Politics of Salvation
ELISEO VIVASThe Two Dimensions of Reality in The Brothers Karamazov
D. H. LAWRENCEPreface to Dostoevsky's "The Grand Inquisitor"
SIGMUND FREUDDostoevsky and Parricide
GEORG LUKÁCSDostoevsky
DMITRI CHIZHEVSKYThe Theme of the Double in Dostoevsky
V. V. ZENKOVSKYDostoevsky's Religious and Philosophical Views