Russian Classics in the Modern World: Dostoevsky, Wokeness, and Translation

This week on Beyond the Accent, I sat down with writer and Russian literature creator Olga Ruchina to talk about why Dostoevsky continues to haunt readers around the world, what happens to a novel when it crosses languages, and why some stories survive centuries while others quietly disappear.

We discuss why Russians themselves don't always worship Dostoevsky, whether translators become co-authors, what gets lost (and occasionally invented) in translation, and why certain words — тоска included — seem determined to resist English altogether.

Along the way, we somehow arrive at healthy relationships, modern publishing, censorship, small talk, Russian depth, Western politeness, and the uncomfortable truth that perfectly adjusted people rarely make particularly compelling protagonists.

Is the Underground Man wicked or merely spiteful? Are we reading Dostoevsky or his translator? Why do Russian novels feel so emotionally intense? And can healthy people survive a Russian novel?

Come for Dostoevsky. Stay for the linguistic nerdery, literary disagreements, and a surprisingly passionate defense of flawed fictional people.