Review: Fyodor Dostoevsky

So...apparently this book has been sitting on my shelf for...uh, maybe a year now.    Like I mentioned before, I'm a bit behind in my book blogging review goodness.  But I was excited to remember I hadn't yet read this book as I was in the mood for a biography; I've really enjoyed the other books in the Christian Encounters series by Nelson Books as well.  They are usually shorter biographies and easier reads...and with a brand new baby, my brain isn't exactly up to full functioning capacity at this point.  I'm sure you understand.  I chose to read the biography of Dostoevsky by Peter Leithart because I'm a big fan of the classic Russian writers (although Tolstoy is my favorite).

While Fyodor Dostoevsky was interesting, I was a little disappointed in the style.   It is written in a narrative style (which admittedly, typically make biographies easier to read), and Leithart jumps around chronologically so that it actually gets a little confusing.  If you do not have a good understanding of Dostoevsky's life before you pick up this book, you will probably still be a little confused as to the general timeline of his life.  However, the detail in explaining his literary views and his initial rise to fame, as well as his disgrace with the Russian government and his reemergence as a Russian authority on literature is amazing.  Obviously, Leithart knows and understands a great deal of Dostoevsky.  It would just be nice if the book covered a bit more of the basics and possessed more chronological clarity.  It is good, however, to have a better understanding of the immense struggles and hardships Dostoevsky faced at various points in his life; I think when we understand more of a writer's life, we understand more of his writing.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”