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Poor Folk is the first novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, written between 1844 and 1845. The novel is written in the form of letters between the two main characters, Makar Devushkin and Varvara Dobroselova, who are poor third cousins twice removed. The novel showcases the life of poor people, their relationship with rich people, and poverty in general, all common themes of literary naturalism. A deep but odd friendship develops between them until Dobroselova loses her interest in literature, and later in communicating with Devushkin after a rich widower Mr. Bykov proposes to her. The novel uses a complicated polyphony of voices from different perspectives and narrators. Poor Folk explores poverty and the relationship between the poor and the rich, common themes of literary naturalism. The novel received nationwide critical acclaim and was praised for its humanitarian themes. The novel was published in the almanac, St. Petersburg Collection, on January 15, 1846, and became a huge success nationwide.
