Amazing article, as always, and I’m super late, as always. Just curious: Anna says that his husband “didn’t care about the works of Richard Wagner at all.” Yet what strikes me is 1) why does she mentions Wagner if he didn’t care about it? Did *she* like Wagner? Did many people in their circle like Wagner? And 2) the way she says this sounds a bit emphatic (“at all”), as though maybe her husband has a strong reaction (possibly negative, but strong none the less) to Wagner. Do we know more about this?
Dostoevsky wrote very little about Wagner, unlike Tolstoy, who also disliked the composer. In an 1879 letter from Germany to his wife, Dostoevsky remarked: "The music here is good, but rarely Beethoven or Mozart—it's all Wagner, the most tedious German scoundrel, despite his fame, and all manner of rubbish."
Anna Dostoevskaya recalled that when they visited parks, Wagner's music was often played and quite popular.
Dostoevsky's antipathy towards Wagner likely stemmed from his upbringing on the classical and romantic music of Glinka, Beethoven, and Mozart. It's worth noting that Dostoevsky only heard Wagner's work abroad in concert performances, while Wagner's operas were most successful in staged productions. Interestingly, in an 1873 editorial note for "Grazhdanin" (the journal he edited), Dostoevsky wrote: "Such phenomena as the spread of Schopenhauer's ideas and Wagner's music, full of profound challenges, show, at least, that German profundity and artistic creativity are still alive, still animated by the highest aspirations."
I’m reading The Gambler Wife right now, and I’m loving it! I’m also practicing walking from Dostoyevsky’s house to the island using street view in Google Earth. It’s hysterical, and I often feel like Rodion looking around and wondering how he ended up in a certain spot. I haven’t made it yet without zooming out to see where I am. I really wish I could read Russian to use the street signs to help me! Lol. I’m hoping to be able to find my way by the time I finish the novel. 🤣
I haven't read “The Gambler's Wife,” but I've heard many good reviews about it. It is probably based on Anna's memories. She wrote very well and had literary talent.
Wow, what a challenge! The street view” in Google is tough 😅 i guess, you have to move like a car. On foot, it would be easier; you just have to go straight for a long time. Walk along the embankments instead of the streets; the views are more beautiful.
When I read about his walks, I remembered Vonnegut's book "Slaughterhouse-Five." I always think of it when Dresden is mentioned.
Indeed, Dostoevsky's Dresden was different. His wife later wrote in her memoirs that they moved to Geneva to save money. I laughed out loud thinking about what they would say about prices in Switzerland now.
Funny how getting up at 11 used to sound glorious but now sounds terrible. I wonder what other authors were night owls, as I usually picture them in my mind writing in the afternoon.
Amazing article, as always, and I’m super late, as always. Just curious: Anna says that his husband “didn’t care about the works of Richard Wagner at all.” Yet what strikes me is 1) why does she mentions Wagner if he didn’t care about it? Did *she* like Wagner? Did many people in their circle like Wagner? And 2) the way she says this sounds a bit emphatic (“at all”), as though maybe her husband has a strong reaction (possibly negative, but strong none the less) to Wagner. Do we know more about this?
Fascinating. Thanks so much for this erudite clarification!
Dostoevsky wrote very little about Wagner, unlike Tolstoy, who also disliked the composer. In an 1879 letter from Germany to his wife, Dostoevsky remarked: "The music here is good, but rarely Beethoven or Mozart—it's all Wagner, the most tedious German scoundrel, despite his fame, and all manner of rubbish."
Anna Dostoevskaya recalled that when they visited parks, Wagner's music was often played and quite popular.
Dostoevsky's antipathy towards Wagner likely stemmed from his upbringing on the classical and romantic music of Glinka, Beethoven, and Mozart. It's worth noting that Dostoevsky only heard Wagner's work abroad in concert performances, while Wagner's operas were most successful in staged productions. Interestingly, in an 1873 editorial note for "Grazhdanin" (the journal he edited), Dostoevsky wrote: "Such phenomena as the spread of Schopenhauer's ideas and Wagner's music, full of profound challenges, show, at least, that German profundity and artistic creativity are still alive, still animated by the highest aspirations."
I’m reading The Gambler Wife right now, and I’m loving it! I’m also practicing walking from Dostoyevsky’s house to the island using street view in Google Earth. It’s hysterical, and I often feel like Rodion looking around and wondering how he ended up in a certain spot. I haven’t made it yet without zooming out to see where I am. I really wish I could read Russian to use the street signs to help me! Lol. I’m hoping to be able to find my way by the time I finish the novel. 🤣
I haven't read “The Gambler's Wife,” but I've heard many good reviews about it. It is probably based on Anna's memories. She wrote very well and had literary talent.
Wow, what a challenge! The street view” in Google is tough 😅 i guess, you have to move like a car. On foot, it would be easier; you just have to go straight for a long time. Walk along the embankments instead of the streets; the views are more beautiful.
Dresden was destroyed in WW2, thankfully that art survived. Fyodor Mikhailovich loved walking...and smoking.
When I read about his walks, I remembered Vonnegut's book "Slaughterhouse-Five." I always think of it when Dresden is mentioned.
Indeed, Dostoevsky's Dresden was different. His wife later wrote in her memoirs that they moved to Geneva to save money. I laughed out loud thinking about what they would say about prices in Switzerland now.
Funny how getting up at 11 used to sound glorious but now sounds terrible. I wonder what other authors were night owls, as I usually picture them in my mind writing in the afternoon.
Everyone has different routines, and it's interesting to read about them. I remember that Kant had lunches every day that lasted 4-5 hours.
Check out this infographic: https://www.informationisbeautifulawards.com/showcase/483-creative-routines
Does that include the post-lunch nap? Sign me up!
I’d also love to see Hunter S Thompson on that infographic! 😂
Dresden is still beautiful today, it does not surprise me that they were enchanted by the city.