Did Dostoevsky Have an Unrealized Intention Known as “The Usurer”?

Journal Title: Неизвестный Достоевский - Year 2017, Vol 4, Issue 3

Abstract

Abstract The article concerns the attribution of one essay from Dostoevsky’s notebook going back to 1866−1867 (The Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts. Fund 212.1.5. P. 10). Both in the 1st and in the 2d editions of the scholarly Complete Works this essay was considered to be a preparatory material for an unrealized intention of the beginning of 1866 entitled by the publishers “The Usurer” (“Rostovschik”). The article provides us with alternative researches permitting to date the essay to Autumn 1867 and offers a supposition of belonging of the records on this page to the preparatory materials for the novel “The Idiot” going back to Autumn 1867. The arguments of the publishers of the Complete Works are exposed to critical estimation. The position of the essay among surrounding writings in the notebook is studied as well as its contents reechoing with the draft materials of the “Idiot”. The problem of prototypes is also envisaged (in terms of designation of crosscutting motifs). The specificity of the essay impedes its attribution.

Authors and Affiliations

Boris Tikhomirov

Keywords

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  • EP ID EP454977
  • DOI 10.15393/j10.art.2017.3241
  • Views 160
  • Downloads 0

How To Cite

Boris Tikhomirov (2017). Did Dostoevsky Have an Unrealized Intention Known as “The Usurer”?. Неизвестный Достоевский, 4(3), 3-15. https://www.europub.co.uk/articles/-A-454977