Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Joshua Doležal's avatar

I'm delighted to read this after our earlier exchange. Your notes about Dostoevsky's illness make me wonder if writing might be one of those proximal triggers. That is, perhaps "Old Dost," as Michael Mohr calls him, was not merely simulating his own experiences of rapture in his characters -- maybe the writing ritual actually produced those spiritual experiences for him? I'm aware that I get a similar feeling of connection and renewal from writing that other people seem to get through prayer or meditation. What a sad, yet touching paradox that writing had a therapeutic impact on D's mental health, but also compounded his illness.

Expand full comment
3 more comments...

No posts