Russian Orthodox Church

DostoevskyDostoevsky's works

Four recommended works of Dostoevsky! A selection of gems and masterpieces of interesting Russian literature!

Dostoevsky is a Russian literary master along with Tolstoy.

Dostoevsky is an overwhelming giant who left behind such literary masterpieces as "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov. Dostoevsky plumbed the depths of the human psyche, opening up to us a profound and chaotic world. His stories, woven with his unique narrative style and strong personalities, have an indescribable black magic charm. I was one of those who were fascinated by his black magic.

In this article, we will introduce some of Dostoevsky's recommended works and reference books. We will also discuss useful information such as which translations are recommended and where to start reading.
Dostoevskyism

Fusatoshi Fujisawa, "The Story of the Birth of 'Italy'" - A book I read to understand why Dostoevsky did not go to Rome with his wife!

Mr. and Mrs. Dostoevsky also stayed in Italy for an extended period of time. However, I have always wondered why Dostoevsky did not go to Rome. Why didn't Dostoevsky go to Rome?

It is strange if you think about it, coming all the way to Italy and not going to Rome.

Thanks to this book, I learned a lot about the political situation around Rome, which Dostoevsky avoided. It was a very gratifying book for me.

I found this book to be full of very interesting information about the country of Italy. I highly recommend this book.
Tolstoy, the Russian Giant

Tolstoy's 10 recommended works, commentaries, and a list of his works - Experience the overwhelming scale of the Russian giant!

In this article, we will first introduce 10 works that we particularly recommend from among those we have introduced in this blog so far, followed by a list of recommended commentaries and other works.

Even the works that did not make it to the recommended list are all essential to know Tolstoy. Tolstoy has a surprisingly large number of works, many of which are not introduced in this blog. So, basically, all of the works introduced in this blog are considered to be recommended works, but we have selected the 10 most important ones.
Tolstoy, the Russian Giant

Tolstoy's "Penance" Synopsis and Comments - A must-read to understand why Tolstoy criticized the church and his own faith.

The "Penance" was written by Tolstoy, who had finished "Anna Karenina" and was about to publish a religious work, to express his own position and thoughts.

Without that, if he had suddenly published such unorthodox works as "Studies in Dogmatic Theology" and "The Summary Gospel," readers would have thought Tolstoy had really gone mad and would not have read them."

A fundamental shift in thought had taken place in Tolstoy to the extent that he was written like this. Tolstoy is an entity that would not be accepted by the general public from this point on.
Russian History and Culture and Dostoevsky

Takeo Kuriyuzawa, "Tatar Kubiki: A Study of Mongol Domination in Russian History" - Recommended reference book for understanding the connections between Russia and Asia!

How have the Russians perceived Tatar rule?" This leads me to the question of the present.

Reading this book made me think about "how history is spun. I really felt that history is "made by those who are alive today. History is not about the past, but about the present. It is a matter of "historical perspective.
Dostoevsky and Freud's Killing of the Fathers

Why is "The Brothers Karamazov" so difficult? What was the theme of the novel and what was the context in which it was written - what did Dostoevsky want to convey in this novel?

In this article, we will discuss the actual context in which "The Brothers Karamazov" was written.

This work is often described as "difficult" or "hard to read," and we will also look into the reasons why people feel this way.

Knowing the background of this work, you will see "The Brothers Karamazov" in a different light. Karamazov is interesting! I highly recommend this article!
Dostoevsky and Freud's Killing of the Fathers

I seriously wondered if "The Brothers Karamazov" is really a novel about the murder of a father - reading Freud's "Dostoevsky's Murder of the Father".

In this work Freud analyzes Dostoevsky's life and character in terms of the Oedipus Complex and concludes that in "The Brothers Karamazov" the urge to kill his father compelled him to write it.

But was this really the case?

This article will consider whether "Karamazov" is really a novel about a father's murder.
Dostoevsky and Christianity

Powell, Yuichi Nakanishi, "Greek Orthodoxy and the Holy Mountain Athos" - The Unknown Orthodox Culture and the Holy Land of Greece

This book provides a clear explanation of the teachings of the Orthodox Church, which we do not know much about. The differences from Catholicism and Protestantism can be seen in this book, and you can also learn what the Holy Mountain of Athos is all about.

What is the life of prayer that has been followed for so long? What do the monks think about and what kind of life do they lead?

You will be amazed by the world you read about as you read more and more.

There are plenty of photos and it is very easy to visualize what the area looks like. This is another thing I appreciate about this book.

The author's narrative is also very easy to read and enjoyable, allowing you to learn about the unknown Orthodox Church.
French Literature, History and Culture

Voltaire's "Candide" Synopsis and Comments - Refutation of the best theory, and connection to Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov".

Although "Candide" was written in the middle of the 18th century, it does not feel old at all. The story is dramatic and draws you into the story. It is a very interesting work.

And if you read it with a sense of connection to "The Brothers Karamazov," you will also enjoy it more. This book is highly recommended for Dostoevsky fans.
Friedrich NietzscheNietzsche and Dostoevsky

Comparison of Nietzsche and Dostoevsky - What are the characteristics of each thought - A word about future Nietzsche articles

From this article, I would like to consider the German philosopher Nietzsche. Nietzsche is a philosopher famous for his esoteric ideas and the phrase "God is dead.

To be honest, I have always hesitated to introduce Nietzsche on our blog.

This is because Nietzsche is a powerful influence on the reader, for better or worse.

There is a demonic strength to Nietzsche's words. Their infectious power is tremendous.

Recently, however, after reading Nietzsche-related reference books and re-reading Nietzsche's works, a different Nietzsche has appeared before me. I have realized that studying Nietzsche has given me a very useful perspective to further deepen my understanding of Dostoevsky and, moreover, to study Shinran Shonin, the founder of Jodo Shinshu.