Marking Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 200th anniversary: The Presidential Library to spotlight the last novel of the writer

On November 11, 2021, at 11:00 (Moscow time), the Presidential Library will host a video lecture entitled "The Brothers Karamazov as a Literary Phenomenon" as part of the Knowledge of Russia project. The event is the ninth in the series of lectures "Fyodor Dostoevsky - Conversation about Values", devoted to the 200th anniversary of the birth of the world-famous writer, which will be celebrated on this day.

The video lecture is free. The meeting will be broadcast live on the Presidential Library's portal in the Live broadcasts section in accordance with the live events program and on the institution's YouTube channel and the VKontakte social network.

Dmitry Bogach, PhD in Philology, Head of the Department of Digital Didactics at the St. Petersburg Radio Engineering College, will talk about the last novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Video lecture participants will have to answer the questions about the heroes and ideas of the great novel. Who is the main hero of the novel? Is it abandoned youth in search of happiness and love? What is the main novel's idea? Is it the high moral feat of a person or his extreme humiliation? Who are the Karamazov brothers? Do they represent the Russian family - generous and full of contrasts, which combine two abysses - the highest ideals and the lowest fall?

The lecturer will compare the points of view on the deep essence of the novel by various researchers: Abram Belkin (a novel about evil and disgusting in humanity), Vladimir Kantor (a novel about a "non-moral" and "pre-Christian" national culture), Maxim Gorky (the typology of moral wounds and diseases of the Russian people), Guria Shchennikov ("mass spiritual nihilism and the feeling of denial of traditional values").

The event will also feature a video presentation delivered by Franciscan monk Emanuele Rimoli, the Doctor of Theology, Professor of Christian Anthropology at the University of Saint Bonaventure (Rome).

One has the opportunity to learn more about the writer thanks to the materials of the special digital collection of the Presidential Library Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881) [The World of Dostoevsky]. It features copies of the writer's works and materials about his life and career.

Interactive lessons and video lectures are regularly held in the Presidential Library. They are available on the institution's portal in the Multimedia lessons section and the Video lectures for school section, as well as on the Presidential Library's YouTube channel, where records of past lectures and open lessons are presented.

Accreditation of media representatives is until 11:00, November 10

Please forward applications for accreditation following the attached form marked “Media Accreditation” to the following e-mail addresses: media@prlib.ru, hudjakova@prlib.ru Alexandra Khudyakova, tel.: (812) 305-16-21, ext. 167; mob. +7 (981) 788-28-08.

The letter should contain the full name, date and place of birth, passport data (series, number, place of registration), a list of carry-on equipment, contact phone numbers, the name of the media.

We draw the attention of the media representatives that it is necessary to forward applications for accreditation and arrive at the event in advance.

Entrance to the Presidential Library is carried out only by prior registration and upon showing a passport: for media representatives - through entrance № 2, participants and guests of the event - through entrance № 1.

In order to reduce the risks of the spread of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the use of personal protective equipment during the event is mandatory for all attendees.