From the beginning of his life, Fyodor Dostoyevsky witnessed profound suffering. He was raised at the Mariinsky Hospital property for the Poor, where his father practiced medicine. The things he saw there undoubtedly influenced the stories he would eventually create. [1]
Poor Folk is a novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Published on 15 January 1846, it was Dostoyevsky’s first published work.
Born in Moscow on 30 October 1821, Dostoyevsky was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher. After receiving a classical education at home and attending a military engineering school he began writing in his 20s.
Poor Folk was written over the span of nine months between 1844 and 1845, and published when he was 25. Dostoyevsky was in financial difficulty because of his extravagant lifestyle and his developing gambling addiction, and he decided to write a novel of his own to try to raise funds. The book is a social commentary that explores the lives of the poor in Russia and is written in the form of letters between the two main characters. Well-received at the time of its publication, Poor Folk established Dostoyevsky as a prominent writer.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky was prolific and produced many works during his lifetime. In total, he wrote 11 novels, as well as numerous short stories, essays, and letters. His works are known for their complex characters, psychological depth, and exploration of social and philosophical themes. They have had a significant influence on literature and continue to be widely read and studied today.