V. K. Kantor. <i>Dostoevsky’s two native countries: An attempt at interpretation</i>

Abstract

V. Kantor’s new book is devoted to Dostoevsky’s oeuvre and Russia’s fate, as well as the ailments of Russian society, which the author describes using Dostoevsky’s terminology. At the core of the book is the concept of ‘karamazovshchina,’ interpreted by Kantor as a blind force that is devoid of God, defies all taboos and turns life into a carnival, erasing any distinction between good and evil. According to the author, ‘karamazovshchina’ constitutes the worst affliction of Russian history and life. In his book, Kantor disproves established interpretations of Dostoevsky’s ideas, emphasises the writer’s ambiguous attitude to the masses, demonstrates the Slavophile (rather than imperial) roots of his social ideal, muses on the problem of the loss of faith and freedom, and points out the instances where Dostoevsky’s judgement was prophetic and where, by contrast, he erred. The author considers Dostoevsky in the broader context of Western culture.