In addition to the commentary on F. Dostoyevsky’s letters to A. Maikov (the letter on Dostoyevsky’s «poem» and the events of the Russian history in Maikov’s creative comprehention)

The paper reviews the facts that determine the contents of Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s letter to Apollon Maikov of May 15 (27), 1869: (1) one of the most important theses of Dostoyevsky’s aesthetical programme – understanding the «poem as a native-born pre-cious stone in the poet’s soul»; 2) a detailed description of the poetic cycle on the key events of the Russian history that was made by Dostoyevsky in connection with the discussion of his friend’s other creative works.