Vol 6, No 2 (2019)

The article envisages the problems of the chronological attribution of F. M. Dostoevsky’s “second” notebook kept in the Manuscripts Department of the Russian State Library (Fund 93.I.2.7). All the dating information related both to the notebook in whole and to its particular records, is specified. Since the book was filled up in different directions, sometimes chaotically, it is difficult to establish the exact chronological order of records. The article makes a conclusion that the dating of “1861–1864” specified in some publications should be definitely revised. A possibility of keeping a notebook in the last months of 1862 is envisaged, however, the period of “1862–1864” proposed by G. M. Fridlender needs further justification. To understand the sequence of filling up the book, the article grouped and analyzed records relating to 1863 and 1864: it was at that time when Dostoevsky turned to the notebook the most frequently. A lot of questions touched upon in the article are of a polemical character and need further studying.

The article introduces into scientific circulation archival documents from the funds of the Russian State military-historical archive (RGVIA, Moscow), which give additional material for the construction of the scientific biography of brothers Mikhail and Fedor Dostoevsky in one of the least studied periods , from 1837 till 1839, the time of Mikhail Dostoevsky’s admission to the Engineering corps and the first two years of training of Fedor Dostoevsky in the Main engineering school. Archival data are supplied with the materials of printed sources of the era, mostly introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The new data give a comprehensive picture of the educational process in the Main engineering school in the period of 1838–1839. In scientific circulation are introduced all the disciplines and courses attended by Dostoevsky twice, as far as he was kept for a second year, and during his study in the 3rd conductor class, and during his first and second years study in School. The content of these courses is described shortly but in details; the bibliographic list contains the titles of the course books. For the first time all 19 teachers whose lectures Dostoevsky attended during this period are systemized. The names of eight of them are introduced into scientific use for the first time. In addition, there were identified the names of 20 teachers, both full-time and the invited tutors, who were part of the examination Committee administering the annual exam passed by Dostoevsky in 1839. The Names of seven of them are also introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. Biographical data on the rest of the teaching staff are updated and supplemented.

The article makes an attempt to identify a prototype of the image of an entomologist in the novel “Uncle's Dream” by F. M. Dostoevsky. According to the author's observations, it was F. V. Gebler, the founder of the systematic entomology in the Altai region, the author of scientific papers on insects “Insecta Sibiriae rariora, descripsit” (= Rare insects of Siberia, description) and the “Notes on the insects of Siberia, especially of the Altai”. In addition, the image of the entomologist assumed some features of A. fon Humboldt, who visited Barnaul, and a friend of the writer P. Semyonov, who during the expedition to the Tien Shan in 1856–1857 spent winter in Barnaul (the mining capital of the Altai). Dostoevsky mentions in the novel “a particular species of worm with horns”. The writer chooses the object of the researcher’s irony a very rare insect Leptura altaica, living in the vicinity of Barnaul, parody plays the facts and urban legends and creates allusions, clearly referring to Barnaul.

This article describes the evolution of the relationships between F. M. Dostoevsky and A. S. Suvorin. A particular attention is paid to the change of the views of the publisher of “Novoe vremya” on F. M. Dostoevsky’s work and personality: their relationship came a difficult way from an ideological and political confrontation to mutual respect and friendship. The influence of A. S. Suvorin on the creative activity and the legacy of the writer is very extensive: it is not limited by the well-known memories from the diary of a media magnate, and goes far beyond his newspaper feuilletons. The publisher of “Novoye vremya” not only consistently supported Dostoevsky on the pages of his newspaper, but also took an active part in construction of a monument to the writer, creating Dostoevsky school in Staraya Russa, the preparation and publication of his Complete Works. A. S. Suvorin also supported Dostoevsky`s family after his death, and in 1899 he first produced puting on a theatre stage of the “Crime and Punishment”. Dostoevsky highly appreciated A. S. Suvorin and showed interest for his opinion: many ideas for future great works were born in the polemic with Neznakomets.