Fyodor Dostoevsky: Handwritings and Notes

Sixteen handwritings of F.M. Dostoevsky have been presented for the consideration of UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme Committee. In 2021 the whole world celebrates 200 years since the birth of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821–1881). F.M. Dostoevsky is a great Russian writer, whose works organically combine the realistic picture of social contrasts and a search for public and human harmony, subtle psychology, and humanism. It is difficult to overestimate the influence of F.M. Dostoevsky’s works on the whole world culture. The handwritings and notes of Dostoevsky are the most important source for researching his biography, philosophy, creation process, the history of his works, his contribution as an editor and essayist. The handwritings and notes contain plans and drafts of the novels Crime and Punishment (1865–1866), The Idiot (1860s – 1868), Demons (1869–1872), The Adolescent (1874–1975), outlines of uncompleted works, journalistic and literary criticism articles, materials related to The Diary of a Writer, draft letters, diary notes, money calculations, personal notes, including those concerning his epileptic seizures, and drawings. All together, they are invaluable information about the life and work of the world famous writer enabling to reconstruct the creation process of his works and analyze the psychology of creativity.