BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF FYODOR DOSTOYEVSKY  

An emblematic writer of 19^th century Russia, Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) left a deep mark on the literary landscape. At the end of a childhood touched by pain and mourning, he entered the progressive intellectual circles of Saint Petersburg and became involved in politics. Arrested by the Tsar and sentenced to four years in prison in Siberia, he discovered the victimized popular layers. He then reconnects with the liberals and becomes a convinced nationalist. Inspired by his readings, especially by Balzac, Dostoyevsky began to publish novels early on. His writing features complex and ambiguous characters who are constructed through their social interactions, as in Crime and Punishment or The Brothers Karamazov. His tormented work, haunted by the search for authenticity, sets out to describe the world in all its reality. His career continues to oscillate between exaltation and disillusion, and it is only very late that he is recognized.

• Design: Gueorgui CHICHKINE
• Line-engraving: Pierre ALBUISSON
• Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving 
• Size of the stamp: 30 x 40,85 mm vertical
• Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
• Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations