Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky was a prominent Russian writer, philosopher, and novelist who lived in the 19th century. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian and world literature, with his works engaging with a variety of philosophical and religious themes. Dostoyevsky's most acclaimed novels include Crime and Punishment, The Idiot, Demons, The Adolescent, and The Brothers Karamazov. His 1864 novella Notes from Underground is considered one of the earliest works of existentialist literature. Dostoyevsky's literary works explore the human condition within the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmospheres of 19th-century Russia.