THE SLUMS OF ST. PETERSBURG

THE BOOK ABOUT THE GORGED AND THE HUNGRY

FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE READER

Before the reader opens the first page of the offered novel, I suppose it is worth to say a couple of words to him.
When before the appearance in �Native notes� (�Otechestvenniye zapiski�) of the first part of my novel which itself is the introduction, prologue to it, and I read it to some of my friends � they asked me for many times: is that really so, is that true?
The question corresponded mainly to the dark world of the slums. It likely may arise in the mind of the reader who is not acquainted with the case. So let me describe how the first thought on a real novel came to me, how I was led to it and what made me to start my writing. This will contain a little history of the novel and the answer to question: is that really true?
For a long time, the idea of the offered novel became my most favorite, most cordial idea. The first thought on it came to my mind in 1858. One occasion led me to it.
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