A new short biography of the author of "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov," by a preeminent Russian scholar In this compelling new biography Anthony Briggs explores the effect of Dostoevsky's turbulent life on his literary genius. Described by one contemporary as "the Shakespeare of the lunatic asylum," Dostoevsky famously divided critics during his lifetime. His childhood and family life have been the subject of scrutiny, most famously in inspiring Freud's essay "Dostoevsky and Parricide." In later life his membership of the Petrashevsky Circle of liberal intellectuals resulted in his prosecutionby the authorities: he was forced to attend a mock execution and then exiled for four years to a Siberian prison camp.

Born in central Russia in 1828, Tolstoy saw action as a soldier before becoming a writer. His two novels, "War and Peace "and "Anna""Karenina,"are among the best loved in world literature. Anthony Briggs compares these works and describes many others. He also considers why such a strong character as Tolstoy welcomed into his life two appalling individuals whose malign influence changed him and his literary career forever.