I believe there is nothing lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic, and more perfect than the Savior; there is in the world only one figure of absolute beauty: Christ.
-Fyodor Dostoevsky
Fyodor Dostoevsky (November 11, 1821 - February 9, 1881) was one of Russia’s greatest writers. He was imprisoned and sentanced to death in 1849 for revolutionary activity against Tsar Nikolai I. After a mock execution in front of a firing squad , his sentance was commuted to hard labor in exile. He was released in 1854 and required to serve in the Siberian Regiment for 5 years. It was during this period of time that he abandoned his earlier liberal sentiments and became deeply conservative and religious. Following the death of his wife and his brother, Fyodor sank into a deep depression that manifested itself in an addiction to gambling. It is believed that his greatest work, “Crime & Punishment” was completed in a hurry in order to obtain an advance from his publisher and satisfy his gambling debts. He died of a lung haemorrhage associated with an attack of epilepsy. Forty thousand mourners attended his funeral.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoevshy
Posted by Valerie at December 13, 2005 12:08 PM