THE HONEST THIEF AND OTHER TALES

Book excerpt: Inspired by the works of Gogol, Pushkin, and Karamzin, as well as English and French authors, Poor Folk is written in the form of letters between the two main characters, Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova, who are poor second cousins. The novel showcases the life of poor people, their relationship with rich people, and poverty in general, all common themes of literary naturalism. Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist and philosopher. His literary works explore human psychology in the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century Russia. Table of Contents: Poor Folk The Landlady Mr. Prokhartchin Polzunkov The Honest Thief Fyodor Dostoyevsky, A Study by Aimée Dostoyevsky (Biography)