Apollinaria Prokofyevna Suslova (; 1839–1918), commonly known as Polina Suslova (Поли́на Су́слова), was a Russian
short story writer
A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...
, who is perhaps best known as a
mistress
Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to:
Romance and relationships
* Mistress (lover), a female lover of a married man
** Royal mistress
* Maîtresse-en-titre, official mistress of a ...
of writer
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian literature, Russian and world literature, and many of his works are consider ...
, wife of
Vasily Rozanov
Vasily Vasilievich Rozanov (; – 5 February 1919) was one of the most controversial Russian writers and important philosophers among the symbolists of the pre-revolutionary epoch.
Views
Rozanov tried to reconcile Christian teachings with ...
and a sister of Russia's first female physician
Nadezhda Suslova. She is considered to be the prototype of several female characters in Dostoyevsky's novels, such as Polina in ''
The Gambler'',
Nastasya Filipovna in ''
The Idiot
''The Idiot'' (Reforms of Russian orthography, pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform ) is a novel by the 19th-century Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published serially in the journal ''The Russian Messenger'' in 1868–1869.
The titl ...
'', Katerina Ivanovna Marmeladova in ''
Crime and Punishment
''Crime and Punishment'' is a novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in the literary journal '' The Russian Messenger'' in twelve monthly installments during 1866. '',
Lizaveta Nikolaevna in ''
The Possessed'', and both Katerina and Grushenka in ''
The Brothers Karamazov
''The Brothers Karamazov'' ( rus, Братья Карамазовы, Brat'ya Karamazovy, ˈbratʲjə kərɐˈmazəvɨ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly ...
''.
Suslova has often been portrayed as a ''
femme fatale
A ( , ; ), sometimes called a maneater, Mata Hari, or vamp, is a stock character of a mysterious, beautiful, and Seduction, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers, often leading them into compromising, deadly traps. She is an archetype ...
''.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky called her one of the most remarkable women of his time.
Her own works include a short story ''Pokuda'', published in
Mikhail Dostoyevsky
Mikhail Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (; 25 November 1820 – 22 July 1864) was a Russian short story writer, publisher, literary critic and the elder brother of Fyodor Dostoevsky. They were less than a year apart in age and spent their childhood toget ...
's ''
Vremya
''Vremya'' (, lit. "Time") is the main evening newscast in Russia, airing on Channel One Russia (Russian: , Pervy kanal) and previously on Programme One of the Central Television of the USSR (CT USSR, Russian: ). The programme has been on th ...
'' magazine in 1861, ''Do svadby'' (1863),
and the autobiographical ''Chuzhaya i Svoy'', published in 1928.
Early life
Polina Suslova was born in Panino,
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod ( ; rus, links=no, Нижний Новгород, a=Ru-Nizhny Novgorod.ogg, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj ˈnovɡərət, t=Lower Newtown; colloquially shortened to Nizhny) is a city and the administrative centre of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast an ...
guberniya. Polina's father, Prokofiy Suslov, was a
serf
Serfdom was the status of many peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism and similar systems. It was a condition of debt bondage and indentured servitude with similarities to and differences from slavery. It developed du ...
of
the Sheremetevs, but was able to succeed as a
merchant
A merchant is a person who trades in goods produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Merchants have been known for as long as humans have engaged in trade and commerce. Merchants and merchant networks operated i ...
and
manufacturer
Manufacturing is the creation or Production (economics), production of goods with the help of equipment, Work (human activity), labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the
secondary se ...
. He decided to provide proper education for his daughters, Polina (a
diminutive form
A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle som ...
of the
given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...
Apollinaria) and
Nadezhda. The girls had a
governess
A governess is a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching; depending on terms of their employment, they may or ma ...
, and a dancing teacher.

Polina attended a
finishing school
A finishing school focuses on teaching young women social graces and upper-class cultural rites as a preparation for entry into society. The name reflects the fact that it follows ordinary school and is intended to complete a young woman's ...
, and when the Suslov family moved to
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
, she attended the
Saint Petersburg State University
Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...
. She enjoyed the political struggle, the demonstrations, and students' meetings. She was sympathetic to the radical views of that time, especially regarding
women rights
Women's rights are the rights and Entitlement (fair division), entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st c ...
.
Lyubov Dostoyevskaya
Lyubov Fyodorovna Dostoevskaya (; 14 September 1869 – 10 November 1926), also known by the name Aimée Dostoyevskaya, was a Russian writer and memoirist.
Personal life
She was the second daughter of famous writer Fyodor Dostoevsky and his ...
in ''Dostoyevsky as Portrayed by His Daughter'' described her as a young provincial woman, whose "rich relatives were able to send her enough money to live comfortably in Saint Petersburg. Every autumn she entered the University as a student, but she never actually studied or passed any exams. However, she attended lectures, flirted with the students, … made them sign petitions, participated in all political demonstrations, … sang ''
La Marseillaise
"La Marseillaise" is the national anthem of France. It was written in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strasbourg after the declaration of war by the First French Republic against Austria, and was originally titled "".
The French Na ...
'', scolded
the Cossacks and behaved provocatively."
Relationship with Fyodor Dostoyevsky

In 1861, Suslova attended the classes taught by
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky. () was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. He is regarded as one of the greatest novelists in both Russian literature, Russian and world literature, and many of his works are consider ...
, already a renowned writer, whose lectures were very popular among young people. At that time, Dostoyevsky was 40, and she was 21. Daughter Lyubov Dostoyevskaya (who was born several years later, well after the affair had come to an end) opined that Suslova "spun around Dostoevsky and tried to please him in every way, but Dostoevsky did not notice her. Then she wrote him a love letter".
Another version is that Suslova brought her writings to Dostoyevsky and asked for advice. Her story was bad, but Dostoyevsky was attracted to a beautiful young girl and promised to teach her writing. Yet another explanation is that Dostoyevsky had read Suslova's story, liked it and wanted to meet the author.
The relationship was difficult and painful for both sides, but mostly for Dostoyevsky.
He was exhausted by work, poor health, and increasing financial distress. Suslova was imperious, manipulative, jealous,
and she constantly demanded that he divorce his "consumptive wife" Maria Isayeva.
Dostoyevsky later noted that she was "a sick selfish woman", whose "selfishness and self-esteem were colossal" and who did not tolerate any imperfection in other people. After Maria's death in 1865, he proposed to Suslova, but she declined.
Unlike Dostoyevsky's second wife
Anna Snitkina
Anna Grigoryevna Dostoevskaya (née Snitkina; ; 30 August 1846 – 9 June 1918) was a Russian memoirist, stenographer, and assistant, as well as the second wife (from 1867) of writer Fyodor Dostoevsky. She was also one of the first female phila ...
, Polina Suslova rarely read his books, did not respect his work, and regarded him as a simple admirer. Dostoyevsky wrote her once: "My dear, I am not inviting you to a cheap essential happiness." After their breakup, she burned the compromising papers, including their letters. In 1867, Fyodor Dostoyevsky married Anna Snitkina.
Later life
Vasily Rozanov
Vasily Vasilievich Rozanov (; – 5 February 1919) was one of the most controversial Russian writers and important philosophers among the symbolists of the pre-revolutionary epoch.
Views
Rozanov tried to reconcile Christian teachings with ...
met Suslova when he was a schoolboy, and she was already over thirty years old. He fell in love at first sight.
Rozanov had known her as the former mistress of Fyodor Dostoyevsky. It was enough to spark his interest, because Dostoyevsky was the writer whom Rozanov admired most.
Rozanov made only a brief entry in his diary: "Meeting Apollinaria Prokofyevna Suslova. My love for her. Suslova loves me, and I love her very much. She is the most wonderful woman I've ever met." They had an affair for three years, and married in November 1880.
She was 40 at that time, and he was 24.
They parted in 1886.
Their life together was a torture for Rozanov, as evident from his personal correspondence.
Suslova made public scenes of jealousy and flirted with his friends at the same time. Rozanov's daughter, Tatyana, stated in her memoirs: "Suslova mocked him, saying that what he was writing were just some stupid books, she insulted him, and finally dumped him". Suslova broke up with Rozanov twice, but he always forgave her and begged to return home. After they finally parted, Rozanov admitted: "There was something brilliant (in her temperament) that made me love her blindly and timidly despite all the suffering."
After Rozanov met his future wife, Varvara, Polina refused to divorce him for 20 years.
Beginning in the early 1900s, Polina Suslova lived alone in
Sevastopol
Sevastopol ( ), sometimes written Sebastopol, is the largest city in Crimea and a major port on the Black Sea. Due to its strategic location and the navigability of the city's harbours, Sevastopol has been an important port and naval base th ...
.
She died in 1918 at the age of 78.
References
See also
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suslova, Polina
1839 births
1918 deaths
Russian women short story writers
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
19th-century women writers from the Russian Empire
Feminists from the Russian Empire
19th-century writers from the Russian Empire
20th-century women writers
19th-century short story writers from the Russian Empire