"Winter Notes on Summer Impressions" (Russian: Зимние заметки о летних впечатленияхZimniye zametki o letnikh vpechatleniyakh) is an essay by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was first published in Vremya, a monthly magazine edited by Dostoyevsky himself.
The essay consists of the travel notes of Dostoevsky's 1862 trip to Europe as well as his reflections on perception of Russians in Europe.
It is regarded as an early statement of some of Dostoyevsky's favourite concepts.[1]
Dostoevsky, while not a Marxist, agreed with some of Karl Marx's criticisms of Europe. A believer in Pan-Slavism, Dostoevsky disliked European culture for its corruption and criticized those of his countrymen who tried to imitate it.
Religiousedit
During his travels, Dostoevsky observed both Protestants (in England) and Catholics. He believed that the Anglicans were "proud and rich... pompously and seriously [believing] in their own solidly moral virtues and in their right to preach a staid and complacent morality." Meanwhile, Dostoevsky thought Catholic priests used charity to manipulate the poor into conversion. Elsewhere Dostoevsky argued that Orthodoxy was superior to both, protecting, but not forcing, unity within the church.[2]
Socialedit
Dostoevsky's observations about English and French national characteristics reverse those of most travelers during his era. He suggests that the French are hypocritical as well as irrational, also considering the France populace to be repressed by the presence of the French secret police. The English, conversely, are proud. Well-to-do Englishmen consider themselves too elevated to attend to the plight of the poor, who are desperate and violent.
Literary significance and criticismedit
Dostoevsky admitted weaknesses in Winter Notes, chiefly because he traveled too quickly through some parts of Europe (notably Germany) to properly appreciate them. Even friendly critics have recognized that Dostoevsky's style in this work is poor. The work, however, contains motifs that would later appear in Notes from Underground, and some critics consider it a first draft of that later, more successful book.[3]
Referencesedit
^Muchnic, Helen (May 6, 1965). "Dostoevsky Abroad". The New York Review of Books. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
^Walsh, David (Summer 1987). "Dostoyevsky's Discovery of the Christian Foundation of Society". Religion & Literature. 19 (2). The University of Notre Dame. JSTOR 40059342.
winter, notes, summer, impressions, russian, Зимние, заметки, летних, впечатлениях, zimniye, zametki, letnikh, vpechatleniyakh, essay, russian, author, fyodor, dostoyevsky, first, published, vremya, monthly, magazine, edited, dostoyevsky, himself, essay, consi. Winter Notes on Summer Impressions Russian Zimnie zametki o letnih vpechatleniyah Zimniye zametki o letnikh vpechatleniyakh is an essay by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky It was first published in Vremya a monthly magazine edited by Dostoyevsky himself The essay consists of the travel notes of Dostoevsky s 1862 trip to Europe as well as his reflections on perception of Russians in Europe It is regarded as an early statement of some of Dostoyevsky s favourite concepts 1 Contents 1 Themes 1 1 Political 1 2 Religious 1 3 Social 2 Literary significance and criticism 3 ReferencesThemes editPolitical edit Dostoevsky while not a Marxist agreed with some of Karl Marx s criticisms of Europe A believer in Pan Slavism Dostoevsky disliked European culture for its corruption and criticized those of his countrymen who tried to imitate it Religious edit During his travels Dostoevsky observed both Protestants in England and Catholics He believed that the Anglicans were proud and rich pompously and seriously believing in their own solidly moral virtues and in their right to preach a staid and complacent morality Meanwhile Dostoevsky thought Catholic priests used charity to manipulate the poor into conversion Elsewhere Dostoevsky argued that Orthodoxy was superior to both protecting but not forcing unity within the church 2 Social edit Dostoevsky s observations about English and French national characteristics reverse those of most travelers during his era He suggests that the French are hypocritical as well as irrational also considering the France populace to be repressed by the presence of the French secret police The English conversely are proud Well to do Englishmen consider themselves too elevated to attend to the plight of the poor who are desperate and violent Literary significance and criticism editDostoevsky admitted weaknesses in Winter Notes chiefly because he traveled too quickly through some parts of Europe notably Germany to properly appreciate them Even friendly critics have recognized that Dostoevsky s style in this work is poor The work however contains motifs that would later appear in Notes from Underground and some critics consider it a first draft of that later more successful book 3 References edit Muchnic Helen May 6 1965 Dostoevsky Abroad The New York Review of Books Retrieved 9 January 2014 Walsh David Summer 1987 Dostoyevsky s Discovery of the Christian Foundation of Society Religion amp Literature 19 2 The University of Notre Dame JSTOR 40059342 Frank Joseph July 1963 Dostoevsky The Encounter with Europe Russian Review 22 3 237 252 doi 10 2307 126268 JSTOR 126268 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winter Notes on Summer Impressions amp oldid 1187999709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
