The House of the Dead or Prison Life in Siberia with an introduction by Julius Bramont

by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

little towns of a thousand or two inhabitants,

two churches—one in the centre of the town, the other in the cemetery—in

If it is cold in Siberia, the great advantages of the Government service compensate for it.

Their manners are antique, solid, and unchanged by time.

Those who know how to resolve the problem of life remain almost always in Siberia; the abundant and richly-flavoured fruit which they gather there recompenses them amply for what they lose.

The climate is excellent, the merchants are rich and hospitable, the Europeans in easy circumstances are numerous; as for the young girls, they are like roses and their morality is irreproachable.

it is a blessed land, out of which it is only necessary to be able to make profit; and much profit is really made.

In the towns of Siberia one often meets with exiles who are occupied with instruction. They are not looked down upon, for they teach the French language, so necessary in life, and of which without them one would not, in the distant parts of Siberia, have the least idea.

listening to your words with strict politeness, and with a reflective air, as though you had placed before him a problem or wished to extract from him a secret. He replied clearly and shortly; but in doing so, weighed each word, so that one felt ill at ease without knowing why, and was glad when the conversation came to an end.

Perhaps, among his relations, there were some who were highly placed; but it was known that since his exile he had broken off all relations with them. In a word—he injured himself.