subject: The old woman money-lender [print this page] Anna learned about the letter Strakhov in November 1913. Close friends cautiously wondered if she got acquainted with him. Dostoevskaya answer - no, but when asked where it was published, they either kept silent or were told not remember. The widow did not attach any importance to this forgetfulness, because the thought that nothing but good people, long associated with her husband, always considered him an outstanding writer, and endorses his public activities, could not have written. And cruelly mistaken. Remember the words of whom were discussed in a letter to Strakhov Tolstoy? - "A generous man ..."
Anna read the letter in the summer of 1914. It infuriated her to the depths. Man, no one ten years who had been in their home, enjoyed the attention her husband, allowed himself to build on it "vile slander.
What could she do in this situation? When the time for public response has been lost. When the answer in any daily newspaper could get lost in a pile of current news. When many could not really do not pay attention to it - just do not read.
And yet, despite everything, she decided to fight. And appealed to a wide variety of people who knew of Dostoevsky, with a request to sign a protest letter Strakhov. And many old friends she had not refused. Academician MA Rykachev, Lawyer AA Stackenschneider, actress SV Averkieva and other well-known Russian public figures have disputed the view corresponding Tolstoy's what Dostoevsky was "angry and jealous, but most importantly, denied the allegation" depravity " .
"It is with sincere indignation, - they wrote - we personally knew the deceased writer Fyodor Dostoevsky, read a letter to Strakhov gr. LN Tolstoy on 28 November 1883 in the journal "Modern World", October 1913.
In this letter Strakhov said that Dostoevsky was "angry, jealous, and depraved.
Not to mention the well-known throughout the literary world the fact that Fedor Mich. / aylovich / took over after the death of his brother, M. Dostoyevsky, all debts of the magazine "Time", of more than 20 thousand rubles, and pay them to his death, there is evidence of many persons, that he, himself sick and vulnerable, helping his stepson Pavel Isaev, a sick brother Nicholas and family of the deceased M. Dostoevsky.
But not only the relatives enjoyed the kindness of Dostoevsky: there is abundant evidence, written and oral, that no one turned to him unfamiliar people are not left him without a friendly advice, guidance, assistance in one form or another. Could I do that a man who "dearly loved one themselves," as it says Strakhov?
Fyodor Mikhailovich, according to Strakhov, was "jealous". But those interested in Russian literature, and remember his famous "Pushkin speech", and enthusiastic protective articles and reviews it in "Diary of a Writer of Nekrasov, gr. Leo Tolstoy, Victor Hugo, Balzac, Dickens, George Sand, whom he obviously did not "jealous". Fyodor Mikhailovich suspect in envy of their rank, career or wealth of others it would be strange, when he himself, in his whole life, nothing for themselves sought and freely distributed to those in need all he had.
But even more amazing for us in a letter to Strakhov - an accusation of Dostoevsky in "debauchery". Those who knew him in his youth in St. Petersburg and Siberia (AP Miliukov Art. D. Janowski, Dr. Riesenkampf, bar. Wrangel and others), in his memoirs about Fyodor Mikhailovich no single hint of depravity not say it in those remote times. We, who knew Theodore Mich. / aylovicha / in the last two decades of his life, can attest that knew him as a person with a serious illness (epilepsy) and subsequently it is sometimes irritable and unfriendly, always absorbed in his literary works and often depressed life's adversities , but it is always good, serious and cautious in expressing their views. Many of us know Dostoevsky and as an excellent family man, gentle lover of his wife and children, as evidenced by his published letters.
All of the above Strakhov in the aforementioned letter before contradicts the notion, which we learned about the moral image of Dostoyevsky, more or less intimate acquaintance with him, we believe our moral duty to protest against them on nothing founded and unfounded accusations Strakhov ".
But the matter did not stop, and stood up for herself a widow outraged honor her husband. Objections Strakhov Anna included in the text of his "Memoirs." But, of course, is not dead, perfectly understand everything in the art, critics say, the philosopher and publicist as a schoolboy she explained the basics of literary creation. She appealed to the living. Those who knew her great husband, but because of imperfect human nature, could pounce on the Strahov letter. Remember Pushkin? What he wrote Vyazemsky of bias interests of some part of the public (contemptuously calling this audience - the crowd), to notes of great people? And what if not a sort of "notes" can be called a letter Strakhov Tolstoy? And if he does not "acquaintance" of Dostoevsky called it a "confession"?
What looks especially "crowd" in the documents, memoirs, letters, etc.? At that first drew attention to? Ah He just disgusting, like me, ***) while uttering a sigh of relief.
Referring specifically to such readers, the widow of the writer carefully explained that for the artistic characteristics Stavrogin, must be attributed to the hero of any infamous crime. What Katkov really did not want to print head and asked her to redo it. With her husband's friends, listening to his reading of "Confessions of Stavrogin", found it "too real". And that her husband had agreed with them and began reshaping written. There were several variants, one of them attended the scene in the bath. Infamous conduct of the hero Strakhov "his malice" attributed to the author of the novel. "For his part, - she says - I can attest that, despite the sometimes very real image ignoble deeds of heroes of his works, my husband remained a lifelong alien" depravity ". Obviously, a great artist thanks to the talent does not seem necessary prodelyvat most crimes committed by his heroes, would otherwise have to admit that Dostoevsky himself someone ukokoshim, if he has so artistically portray the murder of two women's Raskolnikov. "
Argument widow and her irony had been deadly. Strakhov, it has been all the same. But many readers heed the voice of AG Dostoevsky. The only thing that she failed to do - is to erase this episode from the history of Russian literature. However, his widow found it a mission accomplished - the name of her husband defended her, and then as the Lord wills.
