Abstract: The article investigates the perception of Dostoevsky’s work through its comparison with Proust’s artistic heritage. It considers the problem of Proust and Dostoevsky in France both from the standpoint of famous writers’ interpretation and of literary criticism. Works by such writers as A. Gide, S. Beckett, N. Sarraute are here analyzed. The author pays special attention to critical studies dedicated to the topic, revealing the presence of an “author’s style” and the need to consider their specificity. It is noted that the comparison of Dostoevsky’s and Proust’s works is provoked by the French author himself. From this point of view, the article analyzes in details Proust’s perception of Dostoevsky’s literary heritage, which is largely responsible for the specificity of comparative works devoted to these authors. These kind of works follows two main directions. On one hand, authors use comparative analysis in order to confirm their own ideas, fitting them into the framework of a personal aesthetic conception. On the other hand, they develop Proust’s judgments about Dostoevsky’s works, and attempt to apply them to Proust through typological processing, more or less subjective. Subjectivity in judgments can be explained by different factors: the intentions of the author, his outlook, the scope of his research, and his degree of familiarity with the works of the two writers. The article shows that in this specific case comparative operations are very complicated, as it is necessary to take into account a multilayered system, consisting of the different creative and ideological positions of Dostoevsky, Proust, and the author comparing them.

References

1. Bekket S. Prust [Proust]. Bekket S. Oskolki [Shards]. Мoscow, Text Publ., 2006, pp. 7-63. (In Russ.)

2. ZHid A. Lektsii v zale Vieux Colombier [Lectures in the hall of the Vieux Colombier]. ZHid A. Dostoevskij; Ėsse [Dostoevsky; Essays]. Tomsk, Vodolej Publ., 1994. 288 p. (In Russ.)

3. Mileshin U.A. Marsel Prust o Dostoevskom [Marcel Proust about Dostoevsky]. XXVII Gertsenovskie chteniya: nauch. dokl. [27th Gertzen Readings: a scientific paper]. Leningrad, LGPI Publ., 1975, № 16, Literaturovedenie [Literary theory], pp. 149-155.(In Russ.)

4. Pantelej I. Dostoevskij i ego frantsuzskie chitateli [Dostoevsky and his French readers]. Dostoevskij i XX vek: v 2 t. [Dostoevsky and the 20th century: in 2 vols.]. Мoscow, IMLI RAN Publ., 2007, vol. 2, pp. 250-272. (In Russ.)

5. Prust M. Plennitsa [Prisoner]. Sankt-Peterburg, Amfora Publ., 1999. 527 p. (V poiskakh utrachennogo vremeni [In search of lost time]). (In Russ.)

6. Prust M. Protiv Sent-Bëva: stati i ėsse [Against Sainte-Beuve: articles and essays]. Мoscow, CHeRo Publ., 1999. 224 p. (In Russ.)

7. Prust M. Obretennoe vremia [Time retrieved]. Sankt-Peterburg, Amfora Publ., 2001. 382 p. (V poiskakh utrachennogo vremeni [In search of lost time]). (In Russ.)

8. Sarrot N. Ėra podozrenija [The era of suspicions]. Sarrot N. Tropizmy. Ėra podozrenija [Tropisms. Era of suspicion]. Мoscow, Polinform-Talburi Publ., 2000. 448 p. (In Russ.)

9. Fokin S. L. Figury Dostoevskogo vo frantsuzskoj literature XX veka [Dostoevsky's images in the French literature of the XX century]. Sankt-Peterburg, RХGA Publ., 2013. 396 p. (In Russ.)

10. Backès J.-L. Le Dostoїevski du narrateur. Cahiers Marcel Proust. Paris, Gallimard, 1973 (Nouvelle sér.; № 6: Etudes proustiennes, № 1), pp. 95-107. (In French). 11. Chardin Ph. L’amour dans la haine ou la jalousie dans la littérature moderne: Dostoїevski, James, Svevo, Proust, Musil. Genève, Droz, 1990. 206 p. (In French). 12. Chardin Ph. Proust, lecteur de Dostoїevski. Les Lettres romanes, 1971, № 2, pp. 119-152; № 3, pp. 231-269. (In French).

13. Enthoven J.-P. et R. Dictionnaire amoureux de Marcel Proust. Paris, Plon/Grasset, 2013. 729 p. (In French).

14. Haddad-Wotling K. L’illusion qui nous frappe: Proust et Dostoїevski: une esthétique romanesque comparée. Paris, Champion,1995. 581 p. (In French).

15. Hassine J. Proust à la recherche de Dostoïevski. Paris, Ed. Nizet, 2000. 172 p. (In French).

16. Macchia G. L’Ange de la nuit. Paris, Gallimard, NRF, 1993. 225 p. (In French).

17. Pejovic M. Proust et Dostoїevski: étude d’une thématique commune. Paris, Ed. Nizet, 1987. 419 p. (In French). 1

8. Proust M. A la recherche du temps perdu. Paris, Gallimard, 1954. T. 3. 1324 p. (Bibliothèque de la Pléiade). (In French).

19. Vuarnet J.-N. Sous le signe des hiérogliphes: Proust, Dostoїevski et le nouveau roman. Europe, 1970, № 496/497, pp. 229-232. (In French).