T he 200 th anniversa- ry of the birth of Fyo- dor Mikhailovich Dos- toevsky was celebrated with great style in Rus- sia this November. This occasion was marked in Moscow, among other things, with the post-resto- ration opening of the museum lo- cated in the apartment where the writer spent his childhood, with its opening even attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Dostoevsky museum-apart- ment initially opened on the first floor of the building back in 1928 and remains as the centrepiece of the renovated museum. Data on the writer's works are exhibited on the second floor, including his most fa- mous novels, while large multime- dia installations have been specially made for the new exhibition. Dostoevsky was born in Mos- cow, where his family lived in a tiny apartment on the grounds of Mari- insky Hospital. He lived here until the age of 16, when he moved to St Petersburg. Mariinsky Hospital for the poor, a fine example of late Rus- sian Classic architecture, was built in the early 19 th century. The hospi- tal provided free medical assistance MOSCOW CELEBRATES A GREAT WRITER Paying a visit to a young Dostoevsky One of Moscow’s oldest literary museums has reopened and can boast of its completely restored interior and exhibition space featuring items that belonged to Dostoevsky himself. There is also the flat where the writer lived until he was 16
around the clock. It was in the right wing of the hospital on 11 th Novem- ber 1821 that a son, Fyodor, was born to one of the hospital’s own staff doctors, Mikhail Dostoevsky. The family moved to the left wing, which now houses the museum, two years later. Fyodor spent the first 15 years of his life in this apartment, before enrolling in the St. Peters- burg Engineering School in 1837. That’s why the name Dostoevsky is usually associated with St. Peters- burg. He lived in the city for many years, as did many of his literary characters. But his first and most vivid memories are nonetheless re- lated to Moscow and his childhood. He recalled his loving mother, his friendship with his siblings, fami- ly reading sessions, leisurely walks around the city, his first books and visits to the theatre… The museum building remains as it was during Dostoevsky’s time. The apartment’s interior has been restored according to information provided by Dostoevsky’s younger brother, Andrei, who gave a high- ly detailed description of both the apartment’s furnishings and the events that occurred there. “At that time, our father, a family man, al- ready had four or five children and used his rank of staff captain to oc- cupy an apartment that consisted, basically, of two rooms, the entrance hall and a kitchen… Later, in the ‘30s, when even more children were born to our parents, one more room, with three windows overlooking the back- yard, was added to this apartment”. The furnishings were rather modest, but the museum is worth a visit simply because some personal belongings of the Dostoevsky fam- ily are preserved there. The Mos- cow exhibition includes Dostoev- sky’s writing pen, a symbol of his future literary path, and his writing desk, which was brought back from St. Petersburg. Other priceless exhib- its include an inkstand, his specta- cles, business cards, a family library and much more. This museum is just one more good reason for you to fly to Moscow this winter…
Nameštaj je prilično
skroman, ali muzej vredi posetiti jer se u njemu čuvaju neke lične stvari porodice Dostojevski The furniture is rather modest, but the museum is worth a visit simply because some personal belongings of the Dostoevsky family are preserved there
Dostojevski je objavio 12 romana, četiri novele, više desetina pripovetki i niz publicističkih tekstova i druge proze, od kojih je već ina istraživala tajne ljudske duše Dostoevsky published 12 novels, four novellas, dozens of short stories and a series of journalism opinion pieces and other prose, most of which explored the secrets of the human soul
Tekst / Words: Jelena Pantović Fotografije / Photography: Profimedia.rs
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