Dostoevsky: Letters And Reminiscences
Book Details
Author(s)Dostoyevsky, Fyodor
ISBN / ASINB006RTWNTO
ISBN-13978B006RTWNT6
MarketplaceCanada 🇨🇦
Description
LETTER TO HIS BROTHER
The following is the full text of Dostoevsky's letter, written on the day he was sentenced to death, December 22, 1849, to his brother Mihail. Only the first paragraph of the letter has been published before. It is now published in full for the first time. It is a document of exceptional importance.
The original letter cannot now be traced. But a copy of it, made by Madame Dostoevsky, is now kept in the Central Archives. It has now been made public.
Mihail Dostoevsky was, after all, allowed to see Fiodor before his departure for Siberia. In his Reminiscences (1881), A. P. Miliukov relates that Fiodor said to his brother at parting :
' During these three months I have gone through much ; I mean, I have gone through much in myself; and now there are the things I am going to see and go through. There will be much to be written.'
Nevsky Prospect, opposite Gryazny Street, in the house of Neslind.
Brother, my precious friend ! all is settled ! I am sentenced to four years' hard labour in the fortress (I believe, of Orenburg) and after that to serve as a private. To-day, the 22nd of December, we were taken to the Semionov Drill Ground. There the sentence of death was read to all of us, we were told to kiss the Cross, our swords were broken over our heads, and our last toilet was made (white shirts). Then three were tied to the pillar for execution. I was the sixth. Three at a time were called out; consequently, I was in the second batch and no more than a minute was left me to live. I remembered you, brother, and all yours ; during the last minute you, you alone, were in my mind, only then I realised how I love you, dear brother mine ! I also managed to embrace Plescheyev and Durov who stood close to me and to say good-bye....
The following is the full text of Dostoevsky's letter, written on the day he was sentenced to death, December 22, 1849, to his brother Mihail. Only the first paragraph of the letter has been published before. It is now published in full for the first time. It is a document of exceptional importance.
The original letter cannot now be traced. But a copy of it, made by Madame Dostoevsky, is now kept in the Central Archives. It has now been made public.
Mihail Dostoevsky was, after all, allowed to see Fiodor before his departure for Siberia. In his Reminiscences (1881), A. P. Miliukov relates that Fiodor said to his brother at parting :
' During these three months I have gone through much ; I mean, I have gone through much in myself; and now there are the things I am going to see and go through. There will be much to be written.'
Nevsky Prospect, opposite Gryazny Street, in the house of Neslind.
Brother, my precious friend ! all is settled ! I am sentenced to four years' hard labour in the fortress (I believe, of Orenburg) and after that to serve as a private. To-day, the 22nd of December, we were taken to the Semionov Drill Ground. There the sentence of death was read to all of us, we were told to kiss the Cross, our swords were broken over our heads, and our last toilet was made (white shirts). Then three were tied to the pillar for execution. I was the sixth. Three at a time were called out; consequently, I was in the second batch and no more than a minute was left me to live. I remembered you, brother, and all yours ; during the last minute you, you alone, were in my mind, only then I realised how I love you, dear brother mine ! I also managed to embrace Plescheyev and Durov who stood close to me and to say good-bye....
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