Mikhail Dostoyevsky
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky , (November 25, 1820—July 22, 1864), was a Russian short story writer, publisher, literary critic and an elder brother of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The two of them were only a year apart in age and spent childhood and youth together. Mikhail was regarded by his family as an underachiever, particularly after his younger brother's achievements outshone his own.
, where his father was a surgeon at the Mariinsky Hospital. Mikhail received a home education
. He began to write poetry at the age of nine. In 1834 he was sent to a boarding school
of L. Chermak, where he stayed until 1837. Then his father took him and his younger brother Fyodor to Saint Petersburg. Mikhail intended to enter the Petersburg's Academy of Engineering, but he was not accepted because he was considered consumptive
after medical examinations.
In 1849 Mikhail was arrested because of his connections to Petrashevsky Circle
.
In 1861 he started a magazine titled Vremya
. Dostoyevsky wanted to create a fresh independent publication, alien-standing, sustainable, not bowing to any authority and impartial. At the same time, it would appeal to common people and inspirit the study of their lives and life principles, as Mikhail Dostoyevsky was convinced that all flaws in Russian society had come from "apathetic" cosmopolitanism
.
Vremya became one of the most popular magazines in the early 1860s with approximately 4000 subscribers. Officially Mikhail was publisher and editor, but the editorial work was mostly borne by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who worked as columnist, critic, essayist and writer all at once. Vremya was banned in April 1863 for publishing one of Nikolay Strakhov
's articles. In 1864 Dostoevsky established Epokha
(Epoch) magazine. He died that year in Saint Petersburg
, on July 22 from a bilious attack. He was 45 years old.
In 1842 he married Emily von Ditmar with whom he had two sons, Fyodor and Mikhail, and three daughters, Catherine, Maria and Varvara. Fyodor Dostoyevsky recalled his brother as a persistent, hard-working and energetic man, "a connoisseur of European languages and literature", and a harsh critic of his own writing. According to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Mikhail did not consider himself an eligible writer, and for that reason reason he stopped writing fiction and concentrated on publishing activities. They were close friends.
He translated many European literature classics, including Goethe
's Reineke Fuchs and Schiller
's Don Carlos
.
Biography
Mikhail Dostoyevsky was born on November 25, 1820 in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where his father was a surgeon at the Mariinsky Hospital. Mikhail received a home education
Home education
Home education is a collective term used in the UK to describe education provided otherwise than through the schooling system. Parents have a duty to ensure their children are educated but the education legislation in England and Wales does not differentiate between school attendance or education...
. He began to write poetry at the age of nine. In 1834 he was sent to a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
of L. Chermak, where he stayed until 1837. Then his father took him and his younger brother Fyodor to Saint Petersburg. Mikhail intended to enter the Petersburg's Academy of Engineering, but he was not accepted because he was considered consumptive
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
after medical examinations.
In 1849 Mikhail was arrested because of his connections to Petrashevsky Circle
Petrashevsky Circle
The Petrashevsky Circle was a Russian literary discussion group of progressive-minded commoner-intellectuals in St. Petersburg organized by Mikhail Petrashevsky, a follower of the French utopian socialist Charles Fourier. Among the members were writers, teachers, students, minor government...
.
In 1861 he started a magazine titled Vremya
Vremya (magazine)
Vremya was a monthly magazine published by Fyodor Dostoyevsky under the editorship of his brother Mikhail Dostoyevsky, as Fyodor himself, due to his status as a former convict, was unable to be the official editor.-Publication history:...
. Dostoyevsky wanted to create a fresh independent publication, alien-standing, sustainable, not bowing to any authority and impartial. At the same time, it would appeal to common people and inspirit the study of their lives and life principles, as Mikhail Dostoyevsky was convinced that all flaws in Russian society had come from "apathetic" cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
.
Vremya became one of the most popular magazines in the early 1860s with approximately 4000 subscribers. Officially Mikhail was publisher and editor, but the editorial work was mostly borne by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who worked as columnist, critic, essayist and writer all at once. Vremya was banned in April 1863 for publishing one of Nikolay Strakhov
Nikolay Strakhov
Nikolay Nikolayevich Strakhov, also transliterated as Nikolai Strahov , was a Russian philosopher, publicist and literary critic who shared the ideals of pochvennichestvo. He was a long-time friend and correspondent of Leo Tolstoy....
's articles. In 1864 Dostoevsky established Epokha
Epoch (Russian magazine)
Epoch was a Russian literary magazine published in 1864-65 by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and his brother Mikhail.-Publication history:The first two combined numbers of Epoch, for January and February, 1864, were published in March,1864, containing the opening chapters of Notes from Underground by Fyodor...
(Epoch) magazine. He died that year in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
, on July 22 from a bilious attack. He was 45 years old.
In 1842 he married Emily von Ditmar with whom he had two sons, Fyodor and Mikhail, and three daughters, Catherine, Maria and Varvara. Fyodor Dostoyevsky recalled his brother as a persistent, hard-working and energetic man, "a connoisseur of European languages and literature", and a harsh critic of his own writing. According to Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Mikhail did not consider himself an eligible writer, and for that reason reason he stopped writing fiction and concentrated on publishing activities. They were close friends.
Works
In the 1840s Mikhail Dostoyevsky's short stories were published in Notes of the Fatherland:- A Daughter (Дочка; 1848)
- Mr. Svetelkin (Господин Светелкин; 1848)
- Sparrow (Воробей; 1848)
- Two Old Men (Два старичка; 1849)
- Fifty Years (Пятьдесят лет; 1850)
- The Older and the Younger (Старшая и меньшая, 1851)
He translated many European literature classics, including Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
's Reineke Fuchs and Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
's Don Carlos
Don Carlos (play)
Don Carlos is a historical tragedy in five acts by Friedrich Schiller; it was written between 1783 and 1787 and first produced in Hamburg in 1787...
.