An exploration of the literary, philosophical and cultural legacy of Fyodor Dostoevsky through The Brothers Karamazov. We will enjoy the literary mastery of Dostoevsky’s last novel, considered by many a masterpiece of world literature, while relying on topics and themes in the novel to discuss the problem of evil, the psychology of human mind, the limits of rationalism, the concept of religious faith in the world of injustice and suffer, and other “eternal questions.” The best text to read is the original Russian; we will be using English translations and our discussions will be conducted in English. However, those who are able to read in Russian are encouraged to do so.

Instructor:

Dr. Konstantin Starikov

Dr. Starikov is an academic librarian and instructor of Russian at Boston University. A poet and an independent scholar, Dr. Starikov did his graduate work in Slavic Studies and Literature at Brown, Yale, and the University of Chicago. He is a recipient of Dr. Pranas A. Sveikauskas Award in Recognition of an Outstanding Dissertation The Poetic Riddle in Eighteenth-Century Russia (2016).