Dostoyevsky's Execution

Dostoyevsky was one of a group of radicals denounced to the secret police in 18 forty nine. He and his comrades were told they would all be executed by firing squad. At the very last moment, with rounds chambered, a letter from the czar himself announced that he had decided to show mercy and stay their executions. This episode had a profound effect on him, as it was intended to do. I imagine, many years later, when he was quite a different man, he authored a scene in one of his great books, the idiot, which drew on this experience. It struck me most forcibly. When i was in bazle, i saw a picture very