Poor Folk

A moving story of hardship, kindness, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Poor Folk is the debut novel of Fyodor Dostoevsky, introducing the psychological depth and social insight that would later make him one of the world's greatest writers.

Presented through a series of letters, the novel follows the correspondence between Makar Devushkin, a humble government clerk, and Varvara Dobroselova, a young woman facing financial and personal difficulties. Through their exchanges, a touching portrait emerges of friendship, sacrifice, hope, and the daily struggles of life in nineteenth-century Russia.

Dostoevsky explores themes of poverty, social inequality, dignity, loneliness, and the emotional bonds that help people endure difficult circumstances.

A landmark of Russian realism, Poor Folk remains a powerful and compassionate examination of ordinary lives and the resilience of the human heart.

© 2026 Bygone Books (Ebook): 9791070132999

Translators: CJ Hogarth

Release date

Ebook: 24 June 2026