Early Western Exposure: Dostoevsky's "Poor Folk" in German Translation

In the mid-19th century, Wilhelm Wolfsohn translated Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Poor Folk" into German, and this work was published in a German magazine. This event marked one of the earliest introductions of Dostoevsky’s writing to a wider European audience outside Russia. "Poor Folk," originally written by Dostoevsky, depicts the harsh realities of poverty and social injustice through the correspondence between an impoverished clerk and a seamstress. The publication of this translation played a role in shaping Dostoevsky’s reputation in Western Europe. It allowed German readers to access Russian literature, which at the time was relatively unfamiliar to them. Wolfsohn’s translation thus contributed to the diffusion of Russian literary works, paving the way for Dostoevsky's later, more famous pieces to gain international recognition. This dissemination also encouraged further translations and studies of Russian authors, enriching the literary landscape of Europe. #MoofLife #Dostoevsky #LiteraryTranslation #CulturalExchange #RussianLiterature #EuropeanLiterature