Dostoevsky on Crime and Revolution: A Study in Russian Nihilism

Authors

Louis C. Midgley

Keywords

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Abstract

Although Dostoevsky deserves praise for his literary accomplishments, his ability to write does not necessarily translate into political savvy. Examining Dostoevsky's views on liberalism, nihilism, and socialism, as expressed in The Possessed, The Brothers Karamazov, The Diary of a Writer, and other works, the author concludes that Dostoevsky's faith in "holy Russia" was misplaced even as his vision of the violence resulting from nihilist thinking was more accurate.

Recommended Citation

Midgley, Louis C. (1961) "Dostoevsky on Crime and Revolution: A Study in Russian Nihilism," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 8.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol3/iss2/8