Today Russia celebrates 190th anniversary of the birth of Fyodor Dostoevsky, the great Russian classic writer and philosopher.

      The entire world knows Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881), the great novelist and classic of Russian literature, who created the immortal books, such as The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, Crime and Punishment, Demons and many others. His works touch upon eternal philosophical problems of human life, spirituality and belief. According to UNESCO, in the past century Dostoevsky was one of the most readable writers in the world. And he still remains the same in the beginning of new 21st century when traditions of classical Russian and world literature have given place to various style currents and new philosophical concepts.

      Russian officials have prepared many interesting events dedicated to that remarkable date. The first event in the celebration is the opening of of the Demons exhibition at the Dostoevsky Apartment-Museum. This exhibition is dedicated to the staging of a play based on writer’s novel by Lev Dodin at the Maly Drama Theatre de L’Europe.

      The Apartment-Museum on Kuznechny Pereulok is also celebrating a jubilee this year, as it marks 40 years since its opening. It was the place where Dostoevsky lived in 1878-1881 and worked on such novels as The Brothers Karamazov and a Writer’s Diary. The museum will host an international academic conference called "Dostoevsky and World Culture". Specialists on Dostoevsky's life and works will discuss the fundamental problems related to the perception of this Russian genius in the modern world and the influence of his works on cultural and political figures of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

      The conference's members will also visit the Dostoevsky's grave at the Tikhvin Cemetery (Alexander Nevsky Monastery) and lay flowers on it. 

      The apartment museum will present an exhibition "Images of Dostoevsky", its guests will see the collection of graphic works and illustrations of the writer's works, which includes about 900 exhibits. The museum has also issued an illustrated album and a calendar for 2012 , dedicated to artworks based on Dostoevsky's creativity.

      Not only Russia but Belarus, the motherland of Dostoesky's parents, has prepared several events. In particular, the National Library of Belarus opens a book exhibition “The sufferer genius” dedicated to the 190th birthday anniversary. The exposition includes about 150 editions such as collections of selected works, separate works, articles and letters, graphic materials, literature about the writer’s life and career. 

Sources: Vesti.ru Nib.by Russkiy Mir Image: xsp.ru

      Related News: Dostoevsky's Petersburg in Free Audio Guide (9.11.2011)