Today in history, Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky was born on November 11, 1821. Considered one of the greatest novelists of all time, he used fiction to explore spirituality, politics, sociology, and the human condition. His best-known works are Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, The Brothers Karamazov, and Notes from Underground.

Dostoyevsky was the second of seven children. His father was a successful doctor who worked in a hospital for the underprivileged. While some described him as strict and violent, Dostoyevsky recalled his father fondly. The bedtime stories his parents read to him influenced his future work.

Dostoyevsky began boarding school at 15 and graduated as a military engineer in 1844. He decided to pursue a writing career, though. He published his first novel, Poor Folk, in 1846. It was a critical success and opened the door to St. Petersburg’s literary circles.

In 1847, Dostoyevsky joined a group of radicals interested in revolution and banned literature. He was arrested in 1849 for anti-government conspiracies and circulating prohibited books. After a mock execution, he was sentenced to four years of hard labor in Siberia. This experience traumatized Dostoyevsky. In his writing, he explored themes of guilt and redemption, and his novels delved deeper into existentialism. Politically, he became more conservative.

Dostoyevsky’s writing is still widely influential. He’s known for shaping modern prose and exploring characters’ psychology. Academics continue to analyze and study his work. His impact on literature and politics goes far beyond the pages of his novels.