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Dmitry DostoevskiyGreat-grandson of Fyodor Mikhailovich
Country:
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Biography of Dmitry Dostoevsky
Dmitry Dostoevsky, the great-grandson of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, lives in the slums of modern-day St. Petersburg. Despite living in one of the least prestigious areas of the city, Dmitry is content with his humble surroundings. He resides in the Dostoevsky family home on Marshal Govorov Street, overlooking the bustling trams and smokestacks of nearby factories such as Kirovsky, "Red Chemist," and "Red October."
Born in 1945, Dmitry is the son of Fyodor Fyodorovich Dostoevsky and the grandson of the renowned writer. Fyodor Fyodorovich, one of four children of Fyodor Mikhailovich, lived most of his life in Simferopol. He had two sons, one of whom died at the age of 16. The younger son, Andrei (Dmitry's father), was born in 1906 and attended the Novocherkassk Institute. However, he was expelled for his noble lineage and refusal to wear the student uniform. To complete his education, he traveled to St. Petersburg to live with his uncle, Andrei Andreevich Dostoevsky, the nephew of Fyodor Mikhailovich. Andrei Andreevich was a remarkable man who assisted Anna Grigorievna, Fyodor Mikhailovich's wife, in all aspects of her life. He ran errands for her and solved publishing problems. At the age of 66, he was arrested and sent to work on the Belomorkanal. He died six months later, leaving no children behind.
Dmitry's father graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in St. Petersburg and became a forestry engineer. He fought in the tank forces and reconnaissance during World War II and was wounded twice. He carried a bust of Fyodor Mikhailovich in his backpack throughout the war as a talisman.
After the death of Andrei Andreevich, Dmitry's parents stayed in his apartment. It was here that Dmitry's sister Tatyana was born in 1936, followed by Dmitry himself in 1945. The apartment was located in the heart of St. Petersburg, from which all distances in the city were measured. The street was mentioned by Gogol in "The Inspector General" ("I'll write to my friend on Postal Street"). Andrei Andreevich was a state councilor, and his apartment was spacious. However, after the revolution, it was converted into a communal apartment. The Dostoevsky family was squeezed into a single room above the archway, with a semi-circular window, similar to the ones depicted in Dobuzhinsky's illustrations for "White Nights." In 1967, on the wave of Lenin's centenary, all rooms above the archways were declared uninhabitable, and the family was relocated.
As the great-grandson of the renowned writer, Dmitry often receives attention and curiosity from others. However, he has learned to accept this calmly. He is frequently asked about his lineage and how he feels being related to such a great literary figure. Dmitry explains that his lineage comes through his grandfather, Fyodor Fyodorovich, the son of Fyodor Mikhailovich. Only two out of Fyodor Fyodorovich's four children, Lyuba and Fyodor, survived into adulthood. Lyuba left for abroad in 1913 and never returned. She had no children. Fyodor Fyodorovich spent most of his life in Simferopol and had two sons. The eldest died at the age of 16, and the younger, Dmitry's father, Andrei, was born in 1906. Dmitry himself does not have children but has a son named Alexei, who shares the same complex as Dmitry regarding their relation to Fyodor Mikhailovich.
In terms of education, Dmitry did not pursue higher education in his youth. He now operates his own transportation business, driving a cargo bus to earn a living. In his younger years, Dmitry rejected higher education, believing that it was more important to gain diverse experiences and "learn about life." He worked in various professions, including diamond cutting, where he developed a skill for creating intricate patterns on crystal. However, due to health issues caused by the glass dust, Dmitry had to leave the profession. He then worked as a high-voltage electrician, a high-frequency communication technician, a master in a radio workshop, and eventually became a tram driver.
Being a tram driver appealed to Dmitry because his home was located opposite the Kirovsky tram depot. He enjoyed observing the surroundings of St. Petersburg from the elevated height of the driver's seat. He would often notice the beauty of old chandeliers hanging in the second-floor windows of buildings. Dmitry cherished these moments and would purposely slow down to get a better look. He found joy in observing street scenes and people. Dmitry worked as a tram driver for a considerable amount of time but eventually quit after an incident where the brakes failed, narrowly avoiding a serious accident.
Dmitry's interest in Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and his works developed later in life. Initially, he studied Dostoevsky's works as part of his school curriculum, but it was not until the age of 18 when he read "Crime and Punishment" that he truly appreciated the novel. At first, he found the characters strange and their lives incomprehensible. However, as he grew older, his perspective changed.
Dmitry's own temperament has similarities to his great-grandfather's. Both are impulsive, irritable, and occasionally melancholic and jealous. However, Dmitry differs from Fyodor Mikhailovich in certain aspects. Dmitry is less severe, more optimistic, and tries to focus on the brighter side of life. He is not drawn to writing like Fyodor Mikhailovich, but he shares his passion for gambling. Following Fyodor Mikhailovich's system, Dmitry won a significant sum of money in a casino in Wiesbaden. He even has a book of distinguished guests, signed by himself and the Czech President Václav Havel.
Over time, Dmitry's understanding and appreciation of Fyodor Mikhailovich's works deepened. He began to notice inaccuracies and misinterpretations in articles and speeches about Fyodor Mikhailovich's personality and actions, which caused him emotional distress. Dmitry felt an obligation to voice his concerns but also to provide justification for his opinions. He has given presentations at Dostoevsky readings, focusing on Anna Grigorievna, Fyodor's wife, their daughter Lyuba, and their son Fyodor. Dmitry attempted to locate Fyodor's grave but was unsuccessful.
Dmitry developed his theory about Fyodor Mikhailovich's epilepsy. He believes that the epilepsy was intentionally induced, as Fyodor had a predisposition to nervous seizures. However, specialists argue that epilepsy should manifest in subsequent generations, and none of Fyodor Mikhailovich's descendants have had epilepsy. Dmitry suggests that Fyodor may have deliberately brought on his seizures to experience a certain state of mind that inspired his creative process. Fyodor often wrote about his willingness to give up anything for a second of such a state. Dmitry acknowledges that he is not a professional and may not have the right to discuss this matter, but he is driven by a desire to understand and say something meaningful about "The Brothers Karamazov" and other topics in Fyodor Mikhailovich's works.
Dmitry actively participated in the fight to reclaim Vladimirskaya Church from the Kuznetsky Market and other churches for believers. He has always been a religious person, but his faith deepened after reading Dostoevsky's works. Dmitry and his family were baptized seven years ago in Stara Russa, where Fyodor Mikhailovich had been a member of the local church during his residency there.
Dmitry frequents the Dostoevsky Memorial Apartment-Museum on Kuznetsky Lane. While he appreciates the significance of the museum, he finds the atmosphere lacking in detail. In contrast, the apartment in Stara Russa feels alive, as if the owners have just stepped out and will return any minute. Dmitry's childhood furniture is displayed in the museum, reminding him of memories from his own home on Postal Street. He recalls accidentally hitting himself on a cabinet in the museum, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Although Dmitry has not inherited anything from Fyodor Mikhailovich, he cherishes the connection he has to his great-grandfather. Anna Grigorievna bequeathed the Gospel of Dostoevsky to Fyodor's son, Fyodor Fyodorovich. The rights to publish Fyodor Mikhailovich's books until 1937 were also passed down to Fyodor Fyodorovich. However, during the 1930s, the Chekists confiscated what remained of Fyodor Fyodorovich's possessions.
When asked where he would place a monument to Fyodor Mikhailovich in St. Petersburg, Dmitry suggests the fence of Vladimirskaya Church, as Fyodor was a parishioner there. He also mentions a small square connected to an episode in Fyodor's life. Fyodor once sat on a bench while a boy played nearby. The boy filled a mold with sand and emptied it onto Fyodor's lap. Fyodor had to remain seated until the boy ran away, fearing that the sandcastle would collapse if he moved. It was not about the sandcastle itself, but rather the lesson in independence that Fyodor appreciated. Dmitry believes this square would be a fitting location for a monument to Fyodor Mikhailovich.
