Mikhail Dostoevsky is a Russian writer and translator. The publisher of the magazines "Epoch" and "Vremya", editor and playwright was the older brother of Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Mikhail Mikhailovich and his famous brother Fyodor were the weather. The children grew up together, they were very friendly. It was in a letter to his brother that Fyodor Mikhailovich first formulated his literary credo. The affection between them remained until the end of the elder's life. In character, both children were very different. Misha was distinguished by less energy, fervor and agility in conversations. Fyodor always seemed like a real fire.
Work and family
The biography of the future writer began in 1820. The boy was born on October 13 (25) in Moscow in the family of the head physician of the Mariinsky Hospital. The atmosphere in the house was rather harsh. The father did not allow children to communicate with patients, and he himself rarely went outside the hospital walls.
The boy was educated at home. In 1834 he was assigned to the boarding house of Chermak until 1837. In mid-May, the Dostoevsky brothers arrived to enter the Main Engineering School of St. Petersburg. The boys spent almost a year in the Kostomarov preparatory boarding house. For health reasons, Mikhail was not accepted for training. The young man received his education in the Revel engineering team.
At the beginning of 1938, the young man decided on military service as a conductor of the 2nd class. In September he was promoted to cadet, and in 1841 he became an engineer-ensign. The service was held at the Revel and St. Petersburg engineering units. In 1842, Dostoevsky Sr. established his personal life.
Emilia Fyodorovna von Ditmar became his wife. A child appeared in the family, the son Fedor. The boy turned out to be very gifted musically. The baby's godfather was his uncle, Fyodor Mikhailovich, who visited the eldest in Revel three times.
The second girl was born. She was named Maria. Her younger sisters were named Varvara and Ekaterina. On November 5, 1846, the couple had a son, Mikhail. The child received his name in honor of his grandfather. Fyodor Mikhailovich and his sister Varvara became his godparents.
The brothers did not interrupt their correspondence. They communicated constantly.
The beginning of literary works
In the early forties, Dostoevsky retired. He moved to St. Petersburg and took up literary activity. The critics called the first experiments in writing prose very successful.
The works have been reprinted several times. However, the benevolent mood and the emerging fans of creativity did not satisfy the author. The stories of the writer "Daughter", "Mister Svetelkin", "Sparrow" were published in 1848 in the publication "Otechestvennye zapiski". The light was also seen in 1849 of his works "Two Old Men", in 1850 "Fifty Years" was written, and in 1851 the comedy "The Elder and the Younger" was created.
The works were distinguished by their observance of the traditions of fiction. In terms of style, the compositions strongly resemble White Nights and Poor People. Each essay is distinguished by the influence of sentimentalism. In the traditions of the natural school, the essays show the life of the inhabitants and officials of St. Petersburg. His own talent seemed to him too small.
The writer stopped creating works. He decided to devote his life to poetry translations. His works were transcriptions from Goethe, Schiller. In the "Notes of the Fatherland" In 1848, "Reinecke Fox" was published, and "Don Carlos" was published at the same time in the "Library for Reading". Under the influence of the writings of Fourier and his brother, Dostoevsky became interested in the Petrashevists.
However, he did not take an active part in their activities. Fyodor Mikhailovich managed to prove his innocence. Mikhail, who had been in the Peter and Paul Fortress from May 6 to June 24, 1848, was released, but until the end of his life he remained under secret surveillance.
Editorial business
Due to the fact that his brother was in exile, Dostoevsky Sr. stopped his literary activity in the 1850s. He went into private business. He opened a tobacco factory and a shop.
The writer published translations only occasionally, wrote critical articles. Regarding St. Petersburg requests from his brother, who was in Tver and Semipalatinsk, the elder always fulfilled in the first place.
In the sixties, Dostoevsky collaborated with the literary weekly magazine of St. Petersburg "Svetoch". After Fyodor's return in 1861, the Vremya magazine was founded, which was published until April 1983. From 1861 to 1864, the Epoch edition was published under the editorship of the senior Dostoevsky. Sometimes the writer appeared in the magazine as a co-author of his brother's articles.
Dostoevsky Sr. was fully involved in organizing and financing the project, selecting writers and negotiating with them. The leader did not entrust his editorial duties to anyone.
He worked without interruption and was distinguished by an amazing capacity for work. An excellently erudite writer adored poetry, was in love with literature. He passed every creation through himself.
Last years
An energetic and persistent person had the ability to organize and start any business. Also, Mikhail Mikhailovich perfectly led his undertakings, brought all accomplishments to the end, regardless of obstacles.
Because of his impressionability and extreme susceptibility of character, the writer did not want to trust others. He kept everything he experienced in himself, spoke out a little and reluctantly, did not tell anyone about failures and misfortunes.
He preferred to experience grief alone, so as not to tire others with excessive expansiveness. But Dostoevsky willingly shared his luck and joy with his family. He did not want to be left alone at such moments.
The writer died on July 10 (22), 1964.
