Dostoevsky: The Mantle of the Prophet, 1871-1881
These two works add immensely to our understanding of  Dostoevsky, though they have quite different purposes: Frank  completes his monumental biography of Dostoevsky, while Scanlan  examines the Russian writer's philosophical thought. Scanlan  (emeritus, philosophy, Ohio State Univ.) argues that while much  has been said about Dostoevsky as a writer, he has rarely been  treated as a philosopher. Yet through his writings, he explored  a variety of philosophical issues, primarily concerning the  nature of humankind. Scanlan studies Dostoevsky's nationalism,  opposition to rational egotism, and beliefs about our eternal  souls, moral agency, and aesthetic needs. Of course,  Dostoevsky's philosophy was framed within a Christian worldview,  and Scanlan does excellent work discussing Dostoevsky's ideas in  terms of his religious faith. Readers wanting to learn more  about the thought of one of Russia's great writers will find  this work essential.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.