Crime and Punishment was written by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky in 1866. This novel was originally published not as a book, but as form of articles in a literary magazine called The Russian Messenger over a period of one year. Crime and Punishment was later published in a single volume and considered a Dostoevsky novel, although he had originally intended it to be a short story. Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote on topics close to him, using familiar settings and characters from his own experiences. It is therefore important for the reader to analyze the story behind the work of Crime and Punishment to understand it completely. Fyodor Dostoyevsky lived in Saint Petersburg for most of his life. He attended the Military Engineering Institute in St. Petersburg and was successful, although his real passion was creative writing. At the age of 24, Dostoyevsky became famous for his first novel, Poor People. Although he continued to write, his fame declined, and in 1849 he was imprisoned for association with the Petrashevsky circle. The Petrashevsky Circle was a literary discussion group composed of individuals united by their dislike of Russian autocracy and serfdom. In clandestine meetings, individuals from various careers gathered to read banned literature and discuss utopian ideas. Following the discovery of the Petrashevsky circle by Nicholas I, Dostoyevsky was sentenced to death; however, his conviction was only followed by a mock execution. He was then sentenced to eight years of exile in Siberia. Nicholas I shortened his term to four years, although Dostoyevsky was forced to serve in the Siberian regiment for an additional five years. There he met his wife, Maria Isayeva. After Siberia, he continued to write - his style indeed reflects the strong influence of h...... middle of paper ......thor. For any reader to have a deeper insight into this Russian classic, they must begin to understand Dostoyevsky, his experiences, and his surroundings. Behind every book is the author, and behind every author is a life story. Any artist's life experiences are reflected in the work, whether intentional or not, although Dostoyevsky clearly intended to imbue his work with familiarity. .htmlhttp://www.murderpedia.org/male.L/l/lacenaire-pierre.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_russia_Messengerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Dostoyevskyhttp://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Gogolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrashevsky_circleFyodor Dostoyevsky. Crime and Punishment (Kindle locations 4396-4398). Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Crime and Punishment (Kindle Locations 4481-4482).